Florida’s Republican-led congressional delegation is urging the Trump administration to abandon a plan that would allow new oil drilling off the state’s coast for the first time in decades.

Newsweek reached out to the White House, Department of the Interior, and Department of Energy by email on Friday evening for comment.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump heavily emphasized American “energy dominance” as a key policy during the 2024 presidential election, with plans to “drill, baby, drill.” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum then, in November, unveiled plans to open new offshore drilling near California and Florida for the first time in decades.

This would reverse several policies enacted during the Biden administration, which sought to curb offshore drilling and expand clean energy options. Trump has heavily criticized those policies, and, since returning to office, he has implemented several Biden policies, such as canceling billions in clean energy grants and blocking offshore wind projects.

The proposal has prompted significant bipartisan backlash in both states, with concerns over the environmental impacts and the potential hindrance to vital tourism economies.

What To Know

In a letter to President Donald Trump, Republican Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody and all 28 House members, including 20 Republicans from Florida, warned that the Interior Department proposal threatens the state’s tourism economy and could disrupt military training operations.

The appeal marks a rare pushback from GOP lawmakers toward the Republican president, underscoring how vital Florida’s coastal waters are to the state’s economy.

In the letter, Republicans highlighted Trump’s decision during his first term to extend a moratorium on drilling and urged him to keep Florida’s coasts off-limits to new oil and gas leases—which would have remained in place until 2032—which resulted from a similar plea from Florida lawmakers at the time.

“Florida’s economy relies on that same beautiful coastline, vibrant tourism industry, and sustainable fisheries,” the lawmakers wrote, pointing to the damage caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, which “wiped billions of dollars from Florida’s industries and caused irreparable damage to our environment and coastal communities.”

“The risks posed by new offshore drilling far outweigh any short-term gains,” they wrote. “For these reasons, we urge you to uphold your existing moratorium and keep Florida’s coasts off the table for oil and gas leasing. Florida’s economy, environment and military readiness depend on this commitment.”

What People Are Saying

Representative Vern Buchanan of Florida, a Republican, wrote on X: “Florida’s beaches drive our economy and support millions of jobs. That is why I joined my colleagues to protect our coast from new offshore drilling plans that threaten our environment, economy and military readiness.”

Senator Ashley Moody of Florida, a Republican, wrote on X: “ICYMI: [Rick Scott] and I led Florida’s entire congressional delegation in sending a letter to President Trump encouraging him to reject any potential plans from [Department of Interior] that would violate his moratorium banning oil drilling off Florida’s coasts.”

Representative Kathy Castor of Florida, a Democrat, wrote on X this week: “Floridians and visitors don’t want to swim in dirty, polluted water or see our wildlife covered in oil. My Florida Coastal Protection Act would protect our coasts from Trump’s reckless plan to open it for oil drilling.”

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.

Update 12/5/25, 6:50 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.