The U.S. Interior Department will stage 30+ offshore oil and gas auctions in the Gulf of America and Alaska’s Cook Inlet through 2040, aiming to boost energy independence and jobs.
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| Source: U.S. Department of the Interior |
The U.S. government has released a 15-year roadmap that outlines more than 30 offshore oil and gas lease sales through 2040, signaling a decisive expansion of fossil fuel development. The plan, introduced on August 19, 2025, by the Interior Department, stems from the newly enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a central piece of President Donald Trump’s energy agenda.
Under the schedule, federal waters in the Gulf—rebranded by the administration as the “Gulf of America”—will be auctioned off twice a year starting in 2026 and continuing through 2039, followed by one additional round in 2040. In Alaska, six separate lease offerings are slated for Cook Inlet, beginning in March 2026 and concluding by 2032. Officials argue that the certainty provided by this timeline will give oil and gas companies the long-term visibility they have sought in federal leasing policy.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the framework is designed to reinforce domestic energy security, generate new jobs, and expand offshore development in a “responsible” way. Industry representatives echoed that sentiment, noting that a predictable sales schedule allows them to plan investment in offshore production and infrastructure with greater confidence.
The strategy represents a sharp departure from President Joe Biden’s approach, which limited offshore leasing as part of a broader climate program. Environmental groups are expected to oppose the expanded auctions, warning that the policy could slow the transition to clean energy and increase risks for fragile coastal ecosystems. Despite these concerns, the administration is making clear that offshore oil and gas will remain a foundation of U.S. energy supply well into the next decade.
Source: Reuters, U.S. News, U.S. Department of the Interior