On Nov. 20, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced a Secretary's Order titled "Unleashing American Offshore Energy," directing the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, to take the necessary lawful steps to terminate the restrictive Biden 2024--2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program and replace it with a new, expansive 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program by October 2026.
As part of this directive, Interior is releasing the Secretary's Draft Proposed Program for the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.
These actions reflect the Trump administration's commitment to restoring American energy dominance by replacing the smallest offshore leasing plan ever published by an administration with one that fully addresses the nation's growing energy needs, Interior said.
"Offshore oil and gas production does not happen overnight. It takes years of planning, investment, and hard work before barrels reach the market," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. "The Biden administration slammed the brakes on offshore oil and gas leasing and crippled the long-term pipeline of America's offshore production. By moving forward with the development of a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring that America's offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come."
Under the new proposal for the 2026--2031 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, Interior is taking a major step to boost United States energy independence and sustain domestic oil and gas production. The proposal includes as many as 34 potential offshore lease sales across 21 of 27 existing Outer Continental Shelf planning areas, covering approximately 1.27 billion acres, including 21 areas off the coast of Alaska, seven in the Gulf of America, and six along the Pacific coast. The proposal also includes the Secretary's decision to create a new administrative planning area, the South-Central Gulf of America.
"Offshore oil and gas development requires long-term vision, steady policy, and the confidence for companies to invest in American energy. For years, that confidence was undercut by the Biden administration's failed leasing policies," said Jarrod Agen, executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council. "By putting a real leasing plan back on track, we're restoring energy security, protecting American jobs, and strengthening the nation's ability to lead on energy for decades to come.
This action implements Executive Order 14154 and supplements Secretary's Order 3418, both titled "Unleashing American Energy." The orders instruct all Interior Department bureaus and offices to accelerate responsible energy development consistent with federal law. By replacing the failed Biden-era plan with a robust and competitive offshore leasing program, Interior will open new opportunities for offshore investment and job creation, reinforce America's role as a global energy leader, and help ensure a stable and secure energy supply well into the future, Interior said.
Under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Secretary of the Interior must prepare a national program that identifies the size, timing, and location of potential lease sales to best meet the country's energy needs while considering economic, environmental, and social factors.
The current proposal follows a public request for information and comment published in April 2025. Interior received more than 86,000 comments from stakeholders, states, industry representatives, and members of the public. Feedback from those comments informed the proposal released Nov.20.
Before the program and individual lease sales are finalized, the public will have multiple opportunities to provide input. Interior encourages broad participation in the upcoming 60-day public comment period, which will begin when the proposal is published in the Federal Register on Nov. 24, 2025.
As of Sept. 1, 2025, BOEM manages 2,073 active offshore oil and gas leases covering about 11.2 million acres. Offshore production accounts for roughly 15% of the nation's domestic oil output. The Outer Continental Shelf, or OCS, is estimated to contain about 68.8 billion barrels of oil and 229 trillion cubic feet of natural gas yet to be discovered.
The Nov. 20 announcement marks the first of three proposals that will be developed before final approval of the 2026--2031 program. Inclusion of a planning area in this proposal does not guarantee that it will be included in the final program or offered for lease. Each lease sale will undergo additional review, environmental analysis, and opportunities for public comment
Alaska OCS
The Alaska Outer Continental Shelf comprises the submerged lands that lie more than three nautical miles from the state's shoreline. (In contrast, the submerged lands within three miles of Alaska's shores are state waters and are thus regulated by the State of Alaska.)
Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the United States put together, so its OCS is enormous: More than a billion acres -- about 65% of the size of the entire contiguous 48 states.
That expanse contains immense energy and mineral resources. Alaska's OCS is estimated to contain 24.69 billion barrels of oil and 124.03 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Comments, input
BOEM is asking for information and comments from Tribal, state, and
local governments; Native American and Native Alaskan organizations; federal agencies; environmental and other public interest organizations; the oil and gas industry; non-energy industries; other interested organizations and entities; and the public for use in the preparation of the 11th National OCS Program.
BOEM is seeking a wide array of information, including but not limited to information associated with the economic, social, and environmental values of all OCS resources, as well as the potential impact of oil and gas exploration and development on OCS resources and the marine, coastal, and human environments.
During this comment period, BOEM is soliciting nominations for environmentally sensitive areas that may be considered for exclusion from leasing. These may be analyzed in the environmental analysis document at the National OCS Program stage but may also be reviewed and considered at subsequent stages in the process. Ideally, nominations for areas to exclude from leasing would be discrete geographic areas that are smaller than a planning area (e.g., areas of sensitive bottom habitat in the Gulf of America.
Comments should be submitted by Jan. 23, 2026.
Comments on the Draft Proposal Program, or DPP, may be submitted in one of the following ways:
1. Through the Regulations.gov web portal (preferred method):
Navigate to http://www.regulations.gov and under the Search tab, in the space provided, type in Docket ID: BOEM-2025-0483 to submit comments and to view other comments already submitted.
2. Mailed in an envelope labeled ``Comments for the 11th National
OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program'' and mailed (or hand delivered) to Ms.
Kelly Hammerle, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (VAM-LD), 45600
Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166-9216, telephone (703) 342-8867.
For further information contact: Ms. Kelly Hammerle, program manager,
(703) 342-8867.
More than 85%
The 1st Proposal for the 11th Program would make more than 85% of the estimated technically recoverable OCS oil and gas resources available for leasing during the five-year period following program approval.
The 1st Proposal considers three of the four OCS Regions for leasing, including the program areas that are estimated to have some of the most prospective oil and gas resources and potential to provide beneficial effects for the U.S. economy and national security from reduced oil imports and stable energy sources.
For more information and to view maps of the proposed areas, visit www.boem.gov/National-Program
