Trump to open entire US coast to oil drilling

According to a document from the US Department of the Interior, the draft of a new five-year plan for the sale of oil licenses (running from 2026 to 2031) calls for auctions for production rights in waters along the east and west coasts of the US, around Alaska, and in the Gulf of Mexico. The plan even includes waters in the southeastern US, which Trump himself promised to protect from drilling during his election campaign five years ago, catering to Republican allies concerned about potential beach pollution and damage to the tourism industry, Bloomberg reports.

If approved, the plan would replace a significantly more modest program from the Joe Biden administration, which called for only three auctions between 2024 and 2029.

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An Interior Ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the details but stated that a national energy emergency exists, and all options for addressing the crisis and winning the AI ​​race against China are on the table.

"President Trump is ignoring the bipartisan voices of communities, business leaders, and elected officials across the country who oppose expanded offshore drilling," said Joseph Gordon, campaign director for the environmental group Oceana.

The oil industry has shown limited interest in exploring for new fields outside the Gulf of Mexico. Companies face not only political opposition but also geological risks, as relatively little is known about potential oil deposits along the East Coast—most data dates back to the 1970s and 1980s.

The plan has already encountered state resistance. According to documents, eight East Coast states, including New York, Maryland, and both Carolinas, have openly opposed it. The West Coast governments of California, Oregon, and Washington have also united in opposing Trump's plans.

Photo: freepik.com.

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