This article is part of a series from the Center for American Progress exposing how the sweeping Project 2025 policy agenda would harm all Americans. This new authoritarian playbook, published by the Heritage Foundation, would destroy the 250-year-old system of checks and balances upon which U.S. democracy has relied and give far-right politicians, judges, and corporations more control over Americans’ lives.
Project 2025 threatens to unravel decades of conservation and climate progress. This extreme initiative, developed by the Heritage Foundation as a road map for a far-right presidential administration, is poised to reshape U.S. energy policy by proposing a dramatic increase in offshore drilling. The environmental and economic costs of such a policy shift would be catastrophic, particularly for American communities who depend on a healthy ocean.
Project 2025 calls for the reinstatement of a Trump-era secretarial order from the Department of the Interior: SO 3350 – America-First Offshore Energy Strategy. This order calls for the immediate leasing of the outer continental shelf offshore Alaska, the mid-Atlantic, the South Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico to oil exploration. Such a move would threaten American coastal communities, from South Padre Island, Texas, all the way to New York City, with the impacts of deep-sea drilling, including oil spills on our beaches.
Project 2025 also advocates for the Interior Department to conduct at least 10 offshore oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico over the next five years. These lease sales would allow oil and gas companies to acquire the rights to develop and produce oil from the seafloor. At the same time, Project 2025 proposes eliminating the current offshore planning process entirely in favor of mandated offshore oil and gas lease sales. This would open up millions of acres to new oil and gas production in areas where communities are already suffering from toxic emissions, oil spills, and climate events resulting from existing oil drilling.
And new leasing is not needed: Out of the nearly 13 million acres of leased areas that oil companies already own, more than 10.5 million acres have not yet gone into production. Opening up additional acreage would only lock in additional fossil fuel emissions for decades into the future at a time when our climate demands a transition away from new fossil fuel production.
Offshore drilling’s declining support
Offshore drilling is deeply unpopular with the American public, seeing its support decline for more than a decade according to the Pew Research Center. In fact, a nationwide public opinion poll conducted by The Washington Post and KFF in 2019 found that only 14 percent of Americans support new offshore fossil fuel extraction.
The environmental toll of offshore drilling
Our ocean is the lifeblood of the planet, regulating climate, providing food, and supporting biodiversity. Offshore drilling poses a significant threat to these vital ecosystems. The process of extracting oil and gas from beneath the ocean floor is fraught with risks. Oil spills, like the infamous Deepwater Horizon disaster, can devastate marine life, from the smallest plankton to the largest whale sharks, for years. These spills spread toxic substances across vast areas, contaminating water and shorelines and causing long-term damage to marine habitats.
Moreover, the routine operations of offshore drilling release pollutants into the ocean, including heavy metals and hydrocarbons. These substances accumulate in the food chain, affecting fish and other marine organisms—and, ultimately, human health. The noise pollution from drilling operations also disrupts the communication and navigation of marine mammals, adding another layer of stress to already vulnerable populations.
The economic implications of offshore drilling
The economic argument for offshore drilling often centers on jobs and the notion of “energy dominance.” However, this is a false narrative that overlooks the broader impacts. Any small economic gains are offset by the huge environmental costs of increased oil and gas production. Coastal communities, which rely heavily on tourism and fishing, are particularly vulnerable. An oil spill can devastate local economies for years as beaches become polluted and fish stocks decline. The Gulf of Mexico, for instance, saw significant economic losses in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon spill, with tourism revenues plummeting more than $500 million and fishing industries suffering nearly $1 billion in losses.
By prioritizing short-term industry profits over long-term sustainability, we risk sacrificing the health of the ocean and the well-being of future generations.
Furthermore, the focus on fossil fuels diverts investment away from renewable energy sources, which are not only more sustainable but also increasingly cost-effective. By doubling down on offshore drilling, Project 2025 risks locking the United States into an outdated energy paradigm, hindering the transition to a green economy. This could have long-term economic repercussions as other nations forge ahead with clean energy innovations and capture the associated economic benefits.
Notably, these burdens are disproportionately carried by vulnerable communities—including low-income communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color—who often bear the brunt of industrial development’s environmental and health impacts.
The United States must chart a more sustainable path forward
In the face of these threats, it is imperative that the United States approaches energy policy in a forward-looking, community-centered way. Rather than expanding offshore drilling, the United States should invest in renewable energy technologies that promise a sustainable and prosperous future. Wind, solar, and tidal energy offer viable alternatives that can meet our energy needs without compromising ocean health or economic stability.
Moreover, America must strengthen and improve regulations to protect its ocean and coastal communities. This should include enforcing stricter safety standards for offshore drilling operations, holding companies accountable for environmental damage, and limiting carbon emissions from existing operations. At the same time, the United States must support international agreements aimed at reducing carbon emissions and ensuring equitable ocean conservation.
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Conclusion
Project 2025 represents a crossroads for U.S. energy policy. The path we choose will have profound implications for our ocean, our economy, and our planet. By prioritizing short-term industry profits over long-term sustainability, we risk sacrificing the health of the ocean and the well-being of future generations. It is time for the United States to chart a new course, one that embraces clean energy and safeguards the natural systems that sustain us all.