Huffman Denounces Trump’s Effort to Hand Over U.S. Coasts to Big Oil Amid Shutdown

Huffman Denounces Trump's Effort to Hand Over U.S. Coasts to Big Oil Amid Shutdown

Washington, D.C. - Today, Natural Resources Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) issued the following statement following reporting that the Trump administration is advancing plans to open nearly all federal waters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and sensitive areas off the coast of Alaska and Florida to new oil and gas leases despite the ongoing Republican government shutdown:

"While government workers across the country are furloughed and Americans are worrying about how much their healthcare costs are going to rise, the Trump administration is busy drafting a plan to threaten our nation's coasts with oil and gas development, including right off the coast of my district.

"Congressional Republicans voted for their Big, Ugly Bill to mandate leasing in certain areas like Alaska, and to make leasing in other areas more appealing to Big Oil by reducing how much they pay for our nation's oil and gas resources. I, and most Democrats, have vocally opposed such giveaways and will continue to fight these shortsighted plans that are on a legally suspect footing.

"Big Oil has been clear that they want the West Coast, East Coast, Eastern Gulf, and more of Alaska open to drilling despite strong bipartisan opposition. The administration is also trying to sidestep public meetings, perhaps because of the immense backlash to similar plans in 2018!

"I stand with the people of California, who have made their opposition to offshore drilling loud and clear. This sneak attack on California's coast is the worst-case scenario we've warned about for years. It's why I have led legislation every Congress to permanently protect California's coasts from this kind of desecration, and why I will keep fighting to make sure those protections become law.

"Congressional Republicans need to explain why they have rolled out the red carpet for these plans through their votes for the Big, Ugly Bill and whether now, finally, they will stand up to the Trump administration's efforts to open up their coasts to oil leasing."

Background

This week, reporting based on leaked documents found that the Trump administration plans to propose opening previously protected waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, Eastern Gulf, and sensitive areas of the coast of Alaska to offshore drilling. This would be part of the administration's forthcoming Draft Proposed Five-Year Plan.

During his first term, the Trump administration proposed 47 lease sales over five years, covering nearly every U.S. coastline. Fortunately, this plan was never finalized due to litigation and strong bipartisan opposition. But now, Secretary Burgum has signaled that bipartisan protections for coastal communities are on the chopping block.

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