‘Keep It Off Limits’: Florida Lawmakers Unite To Block Trump Surprise Gulf Drilling Plan
Senator Rick Scott and the entire Florida congressional delegation have moved to block a new federal proposal that they argue violates long-standing protections for the state’s coastline.
In a letter sent to President Trump on Thursday, the bipartisan group of lawmakers called for the immediate rejection of a proposal from the Department of the Interior regarding a newly designated zone labeled the “South-Central Gulf of America.”
According to the delegation, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) included this new planning area in a five-year offshore leasing plan announced on November 20, 2025.
The lawmakers contend that moving forward with leasing in this zone would directly breach the presidential moratorium on drilling established in 2020, which is supposed to remain in effect until 2032.
Security and Economic Concerns
The letter outlines that the proposed drilling area overlaps with the Gulf Test Range, a massive 123,000-square-mile water range essential for military readiness.
- Military Impact: The range allows for the testing of advanced air and weapons systems. Eglin Air Force Base alone supports 20,000 personnel and generates an $11 billion economic impact. The delegation warned that encroachment from oil infrastructure would force a reduction in training capabilities.
- Economic Impact: Beyond national security, the lawmakers cited Florida’s tourism industry, which generates over $127.7 billion annually. They pointed to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill as a reminder of the devastation that offshore accidents can bring to the state’s fisheries and beaches.
Codifying the Ban
“The risks posed by new offshore drilling far outweigh any short-term gains,” the letter stated.
Senator Scott is currently sponsoring the American Shores Protection Act to codify the current moratorium into federal law. The delegation urged the President to uphold the existing executive order, ensuring the eastern Gulf remains closed to exploration for the sake of both national security and the coastal economy.
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