In a collective outcry, Oregon lawmakers took aim at the Trump administration's plans to kickstart new offshore oil and gas leases, a move seen as a regression in environmental protection efforts. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, together with Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Maxine Dexter, and Janelle Bynum, stood with over 100 federal lawmakers to push back against the proposed leasing in U.S. federal waters. The contentious areas include the Arctic Ocean and northern Bering Sea off of Alaska, the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and the Eastern Gulf. They emphasize that such actions could potentially wreak havoc on coastal economies and ecosystems already struggling with the impact of natural disasters and recent oil spills.
"This is a matter of national consequence for coastal communities across the country, regardless of political affiliation. It puts our economies, national security, and our most vulnerable ecosystems at severe risk," the lawmakers were quoted to in a statement acquired by Senator Wyden's official website. They argue the new leases would not only to threaten the environment but also public health, safety, and national security. The lawmakers suggest that existing leases are sufficient, as the industry currently holds more than 2,000 offshore leases covering over 12 million acres, with fewer than 500 actively producing oil and gas.
Environmental advocates, including Food & Water Watch, Oceana, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, support the lawmakers' demand. They agree that the potential for increased oil spills, combined with the administration's reported plans to dismantle NOAA's critical oil spill prevention and response programs, could spell disaster for the coastal regions. Nearly 30 percent of NOAA's oil-spill response team has been reduced, with the proposed FY 2026 budget slated to further cut funding by half.
The Department of Defense has also weighed in, signaling the incompatibility of portions of the Eastern Gulf with military readiness. In addition, the lawmakers are calling out the administration for undermining offshore wind and clean energy development, which further hinders the nation’s progress toward sustainable energy sources. The letter emphasizes that protecting coastal economies, fisheries, and local livelihoods should outweigh short-term fossil fuel interests, arguing that opening new offshore lease areas while reversing clean energy progress is both potentially unlawful and a sign of poor leadership, as noted by the same press release.
Solidifying their stance, Merkley leads the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act, aimed at permanently banning new leases in the Arctic Ocean Planning Areas, and is a co-sponsor, along with Wyden and Bonamici, of the West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2025. This act prohibits new oil and gas leases off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. The collective voice of the lawmakers and environmental advocates forms a strong opposition to the current administration's trajectory, urging President Trump and Secretary Burgum to halt the new offshore oil and gas leasing plans and to recommit to protecting America’s coastal regions.
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