California leaders push back against federal review of coastal management program

California coastal leaders are pushing back against a federal review they say could impact the state’s ability to have a say in decisions affecting its coastline.

At the center of the debate is California’s Coastal Management Program.

State officials say it has helped protect beaches, coastal communities, and the state’s economy for nearly 50 years while still allowing major projects, including energy, military, and space operations to move forward.

The discussion comes after the Trump administration launched a federal review of the program, including the California Coastal Commission, which oversees the coastline.

During a meeting Wednesday, state leaders argued the review could put California’s role in federal coastal decisions at risk and urged residents to weigh in during upcoming public meetings.

For nearly five decades, California has participated in federal reviews of projects that impact its coastline through the Coastal Zone Management Act.

State officials say the goal has always been finding a balance by protecting coastal resources while working with federal agencies.

Kate Huckelbridge, executive director of the California Coastal Commission, said the state has a strong track record of working with federal partners.

“In almost every case we work very successfully with federal agencies to make sure that Californians’ voices are heard through those projects,” Huckelbridge said.

The Coastal Commission says it has reviewed more than 3,700 federal actions throughout its history, approving or negotiating improvements in the vast majority of cases.

Officials say objections are rare and typically lead to more discussions and negotiations.

“The federal government can override the commission’s objection and move forward, but most of the time what that review process does is help the commission and the federal agencies really find these practical solutions that protect coastal resources while also allowing these important projects to move forward,” she said.

One example discussed during the meeting involved space launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The Coastal Commission says it has worked with Vandenberg for years and has reached agreements on more than 100 actions involving the base.

However, the commission recently objected to additional increases in space launches, citing concerns about public access, sonic booms, habitat impacts, and effects on nearby communities.

The federal government disagreed with the objection and allowed the activities to continue.

“We are continuing to work with Vandenberg to try to work through, as they continue to advance space launch in that area,” Huckelbridge said.

Local leaders say the issue is not only about environmental protection, but also about protecting an economy that depends on the coastline.

Ray Jackson, a California Coastal Commissioner and Hermosa Beach councilmember, said damage to the coast can have a ripple effect across communities.

“If anything were to happen to our coastline and our beaches… our local economy crashes and that is the local economy of every other single coastal community,” Jackson said.

Jackson pointed to the 2021 Huntington Beach oil spill, which forced beach closures, canceled events, and impacted businesses including hotels, restaurants, surf shops, and fishermen.

Now, state officials are encouraging the public to participate as federal agencies gather input during the review.

NOAA will hold an in-person meeting on August 10 in Santa Monica, followed by virtual meetings on August 11 and August 12 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Officials say the review comes as the federal government considers other coastal issues, including expanding offshore oil drilling, restarting a shut-down oil pipeline, and opening more coastal areas to oil and gas development.

They argue those issues make California’s role in coastal decisions more important than ever.

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla also addressed the same concern through a recorded video message during the meeting:

“The Trump administration is coming for California again. This time they’re trying to undermine California’s authority to protect our coastline. Why? To pave the way to restart offshore oil drilling off the coast of California. We’ve seen the damage offshore drilling causes, oil spills, devastated ecosystems, and harm to coastal communities and businesses. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation to permanently ban offshore drilling off California’s coast,” Padilla said.

Padilla also pointed to his legislation, the West Coast Ocean Protection Act, which would ban new oil and gas exploration, development, and production in federal waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.

The bill was introduced in the Senate in April 2025 and referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It has not advanced to a vote.

In today’s FOX26 accountability question, we asked the California Coastal Commission: “We’ve reported from coastal groups that have expressed concerns about whether the California Coastal Commission has exceeded its authority. They say some environmental policies have affected land use decisions and access along the Central Coast. How do you respond to those concerns?”

We have not received a response at this time.