Name: Bipartisan pushback as Trump eyes new offshore drilling near Florida
Uploaded: 2025-11-25T09:24:34.566Z
Duration: 3 min 22 s
Description: Florida’s history of protecting its coastlines faces a new test as the federal government considers expanding offshore energy exploration.

Florida’s history of protecting its coastlines faces a new test as the federal government considers expanding offshore energy exploration.

Florida

A proposed plan by the Trump administration to allow new offshore oil drilling near Florida's coast has met rare bipartisan resistance. Political leaders from both parties, environmental groups, and residents argue that the move would reverse existing protections, threaten local economies, and disrupt military operations.

The 2020 memorandum currently bans new oil and gas leasing off Florida's coast until 2032, and a 2018 state constitutional amendment also blocks drilling in state waters. Critics, including state officials and environmental advocates, warn that offshore drilling poses risks to fisheries, tourism, and military testing sites. The proposal is still in the public comment phase, allowing time for further input before any final decision is made.

Bipartisan pushback as Trump eyes new offshore drilling near Florida

I'm Forrest Saunders, standing in front of the state capitol here in Tallahassee, Florida. Well, this is unusual. You've got Republicans, Democrats, environmentalists, and a lot of Florida residents who are all in agreement offshore drilling expansions are a bad idea. Check it out. A tide of unity has finally come ashore in Florida. Republicans, Democrats, environmental groups and residents not loving this. The Trump administration's plan to allow new oil drilling off Florida's coast. The plan aims to boost U.S. energy production, drive down costs and create jobs. But it's hard to find support in the Sunshine State, starting with the governor who said Florida's coastline should remain protected, urging President Trump stick with a policy he signed in 2020. Now, what the Interior Department is proposing to do is really to go back off that policy. And I think that would weaken protections that we worked very hard to establish offshore. That memorandum banned new oil and gas leasing off Florida's coast until 2032. Voters also approved a state constitutional amendment in 2018 blocking drilling in Florida waters. So good afternoon. This has been a historic day. It was that same year then Governor Rick Scott got Trump's previous interior secretary to commit to the same. And so for Floridians, we are not drilling off the coast of Florida. And the Eastern Gulf isn't just about beaches and tourism. It's home to the Gulf Test and Training Range, a vital site for advanced weapons testing. The right hand's not talking to the left hand. The Department of Interior is hard charging to try to drive down gas prices. So they're trying to do everything they can to stow it and see what sticks to the wall. Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis drafted a letter about his concerns, getting it signed by most of the GOP delegation. They all warn oil rigs could disrupt operation at coastal bases, even endanger testing of hypersonic missiles. The letter is just a nice way to touch base with the White House to make it clear that, hey, there's a lot of things going on, a lot of new faces. We know this isn't done on purpose, but we need to make sure that we understand these two issues are not compatible. Environmental advocates also pushing back. Floridians don't want their treasure trashed. Ocean Conservancy's J.P. Brooker says offshore drilling threatens fisheries, sea turtles, beaches in a massive portion of the state economy. It's a political no brainer. The ocean in Florida is like the corn. It's like corn in Iowa, right? It's something that you have to care about and care about supporting regardless of your political background. If you want to have a chance of getting elected. Democrats agree whether that's in Congress. Big oil does not need any more help right now. They are doing fine and they hold over 2000 active leases in the Gulf already. Or the state party chair, Nikki Freed, who called the drilling plan a nonstarter, warning the state is just 15 years past the horrific tragedy of the Deepwater Horizon spill. And we're still in the public comment period for this idea to expand offshore drilling, which means there is still plenty of time for you to weigh in before any final decisions are made. That's the latest out here at the state Capitol. I'm forced on this report.

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