1. United States
2. Mont.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the Trump administration's proposal for new offshore oil drilling off the coasts of California and Florida. This plan, which proposes six lease sales between 2027 and 2030 along the California coast and new drilling at least 100 miles off Florida's shore, threatens our coastal economies and ecosystems while offering no meaningful energy security benefits. The federal government has not permitted drilling in federal waters off Florida since 1995, and California has seen no new leasing since the mid-1980s. These restrictions exist for good reason. California's 1969 Santa Barbara spill sparked the modern environmental movement, and the 2015 oil spill off Santa Barbara and the 2021 Huntington Beach spill demonstrate that the risks remain very real today. One disastrous oil spill can cost taxpayers billions in lost revenue, cleanup costs, and ecosystem restoration. Our coastal communities depend on healthy oceans for their economic security. Tourism and access to clean beaches form the backbone of Florida's economy, which is why this proposal has drawn bipartisan opposition in that state. Senator Rick Scott, a Florida Republican and Trump ally, successfully persuaded Trump officials to drop a similar offshore plan in 2018 when he was governor. Last week, Scott and Senator Ashley Moody co-sponsored a bill to maintain the moratorium on offshore drilling that Trump signed in his first term, with Scott stating that Florida's beaches and coastal waters are vital to the state's economy, environment, and way of life. Even Interior Secretary Doug Burgum acknowledged that it would take years for oil from these parcels to reach the market, undermining any claims of immediate energy security benefits. Meanwhile, the administration has simultaneously blocked renewable energy sources like offshore wind and canceled billions of dollars in grants supporting clean energy projects. I urge you to stand with coastal communities and oppose this reckless expansion of offshore drilling that puts our environment and economy at risk.