Restoring U.S. Offshore Energy Dominance: The Momentum Is Real

America’s offshore energy future is at a turning point.

After years of political headwinds, we’re finally witnessing a decisive shift in Washington that is embracing the United States’ position as a global offshore energy leader. The Trump administration’s early moves, combined with momentum in Congress, offer a path forward that prioritizes energy security, economic growth, and technological innovation—all while laying the groundwork for more efficient permitting and expanded investment.

But this is only the beginning. What happens next—especially through budget reconciliation and follow-on permitting reform—will determine whether we unlock the full potential of our offshore resources or continue ceding ground to global competitors.

Reclaiming the Offshore Advantage

The Gulf of America has long been a powerhouse of American energy production. It provides some of the lowest-emission barrels of oil in the world and generates billions in federal revenue that supports infrastructure, conservation, and coastal restoration. But over the past several years, federal leasing policy has failed to keep pace with our energy needs and global opportunities.

The current 2024–2029 Five-Year Leasing Program, finalized under the previous administration, includes only three offshore oil and gas lease sales—the lowest number in program history. This self-imposed scarcity undermines a stable investment environment, stifles innovation, and signals uncertainty to the domestic and global markets.

Thankfully, the Trump administration took action to fix this failure early. Through executive and secretarial orders, it has prioritized energy production on federal lands and waters, directed agencies to resume oil and gas lease sales and develop a new leasing program, and streamline permitting.

The Trump administration has sent a strong message: the Gulf of America matters.

Congressional Action: Laying the Legislative Foundation

The real opportunity to cement this shift, however, lies with Congress. And the gears are already turning.

As part of budget reconciliation efforts, lawmakers are advancing provisions to mandate regular offshore lease sales—effectively overriding the restrictive five-year plan—for the next 15 years. This step is critical. By requiring the Department of the Interior to hold lease sales on a predictable schedule, Congress is restoring certainty to the process and ensuring the United States maintains a robust offshore leasing pipeline.

But Congress isn’t stopping at lease sales. Bipartisan discussions are already underway to address permitting bottlenecks that have plagued both traditional oil and gas projects and, hopefully, emerging offshore sectors like wind, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and critical mineral recovery.

Smart permitting reform—one that maintains rigorous environmental reviews while streamlining the process—is essential for maximizing the benefits of offshore energy development. We cannot afford multiyear delays that kill projects before they start.

The Ripple Effect of Offshore Energy

Offshore energy is not an isolated industry. It supports a vast and diverse supply chain, spanning steel fabrication, vessel services, marine engineering, advanced manufacturing, and skilled labor. In the Gulf Coast and beyond, thousands of workers rely on a strong offshore energy industry to provide good-paying, stable jobs.

Today’s offshore energy ecosystem is also more diverse than ever. Oil, gas, and wind aren’t in competition—they’re collaborating. And when these sectors grow together, the result is a more resilient and innovative energy landscape.

Consider the companies supporting offshore wind development today. Many of them—including vessel operators and subsea construction firms—have deep experience in the oil and gas sector. A healthy leasing schedule across all offshore resources keeps this industrial base strong, supports workforce development, and fosters cross-sector innovation.

Looking ahead, the United States has an opportunity to lead in next-generation offshore technologies. Carbon capture and storage, for example, will rely on offshore geological formations for long-term CO₂ sequestration. Likewise, as the demand for minerals like cobalt and rare earth elements rises, deep-sea mining could provide further opportunities for the offshore oil and gas sector and play a role in diversifying our supply chains.

All of this depends on a strong foundation of offshore activity. And that starts with predictable lease sales, permitting reform, and federal policies that recognize the strategic value of American offshore energy.

A Global Race We Can Still Win

Global energy demand is on the rise—and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. As populations grow and developing nations lift themselves into the middle class and a new AI and data-driven economy emerges, the world will need drastically more energy, not less. Offshore resources, especially oil and gas, will be essential in meeting that demand while supporting global stability and economic development.

America has a unique opportunity to lead—but only if we act with urgency. Other nations have already recognized what’s at stake. Authoritarian regimes like Russia and China are leveraging their own energy resources—both fossil and renewable—as geopolitical tools.

Russia wants to use oil and gas exports as leverage over Europe and other regions. China, meanwhile, is investing heavily in offshore wind, subsea mining, and critical mineral supply chains, securing dominance in the energy technologies of the future.

If the United States fails to fully engage its own offshore capabilities, we risk ceding both economic opportunity, global leadership, and national security interests. A strong offshore energy strategy serves as a powerful hedge against the ambitions of our adversaries. It also enables us to be a reliable energy partner to allies around the world, providing better, lower-emission energy than many of our global competitors.

This isn’t just an energy issue. It’s a foreign policy and national security imperative.

America’s offshore industry has the tools, talent, and technology to lead. We simply need the policy framework to match. With the right decisions now, we can grow our economy, meet global demand, and ensure the United States—not our adversaries—sets the tone for the next era of global energy leadership.