Trump Administration Sets Offshore Energy Leasing Schedule
The U.S. Department of the Interior recently announced a comprehensive strategy to expand domestic energy production, including a long-term schedule for offshore oil and gas lease sales. The measure is part of the One Big Beautiful Bill law, which aims to bolster U.S. energy independence, streamline regulations, and promote responsible resource development.
The Department’s new plan outlines at least 30 lease sales in the Gulf of America through 2039 and six additional sales in Alaska’s Cook Inlet through 2032. A clear, long-term schedule of lease sales in the Gulf of America and Alaska’s Cook Inlet gives companies the certainty to invest, sustaining jobs and strengthening U.S. energy security.
The Gulf of America remains a cornerstone of U.S. energy production, accounting for roughly 15% of total crude oil output. By establishing a predictable leasing schedule, the Department aims to encourage continued investment in deepwater infrastructure, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and generating tens of billions of dollars annually in gross domestic product and federal and state revenues.
Alaska’s Cook Inlet is also central to the administration’s strategy. Positioned as both an energy hub and a gateway to the Arctic, Cook Inlet development promises to reduce reliance on foreign energy imports while creating new jobs and strengthening local economies. The Department described the region as essential to long-term U.S. energy security.
The first scheduled sale under the new framework, titled “Big Beautiful Gulf 1,” is set for December 10, 2025, with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management expected to publish its final notice at least 30 days beforehand.
