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In a sign of fracture within the Republican bloc, the entire delegation of the Florida Congress—dominated by Republican legislators—has sent a letter to President Donald Trump demanding that he maintain the moratorium on oil drilling off the state's coast.
The gesture is a rare display of internal opposition to a key policy of the leader, especially at a time when his administration has announced plans to reactivate these activities after decades of restrictions.
Signed by Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, as well as by the 28 federal representatives of the state, the letter warns that the plan from the Department of the Interior “would jeopardize the thriving tourism industry of the state and disrupt military operations in a key training area.”
Although it avoids directly criticizing the president—whose Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach would not be affected by the project—the letter explicitly acknowledges the environmental, economic, and strategic value of Florida's coasts.
"In 2020, they made the right decision to use executive action to extend the moratorium on oil and gas leasing in the Gulf Coast and on the East Coast of Florida until 2032, recognizing the incredible value that Florida's pristine coastlines hold for the economy, the environment, and the military community of our state," they wrote.
Both political leaders and environmental organizations have expressed their concern regarding the risks posed by new offshore oil wells, especially in a state whose economy heavily relies on coastal tourism.
"We know how vital our clean beaches are for the economy and the lives of Floridians. I will do everything possible to keep them safe," wrote Rick Scott, former governor and current senator.
In a later message, he stated that he felt "proud to lead the entire Florida congressional delegation in urging Trump to continue his commitment to keeping Florida's coasts off the table for oil drilling."
Even the spokesperson for Republican Governor Ron DeSantis joined the call, urging the administration to reconsider the plan.
The pressure has been such that even the spokesperson for the Department of the Interior felt compelled to respond.
"The Department of the Interior takes all correspondence from Congress seriously and carefully reviews every matter," it stated in an emailed announcement.
The new threat: Drilling more than 100 miles off the coast
The plan recently announced by the Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, includes 34 potential offshore oil lease sales between 2027 and 2031, including two sales near Florida in 2029 and 2030.
It would be the first time since 1995 that this type of activity is allowed in federal waters off the state.
The drilling would take place in a recently designated area of the Central-Southern Gulf, more than 100 miles off the coast, in waters adjacent to thousands of already active wells in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Trump administration justifies the measure as part of its strategy of "energy dominance," a plan aimed at increasing domestic fossil fuel production to reduce dependence on international actors and to tackle the volatility of the global market.
Trump defended the plan as a fulfilled promise: “Our nation will be a world leader in energy again. No one will do it better than the United States,” he stated.
The American Petroleum Institute celebrated the decision as a “historic step” to strengthen the national economy and create jobs.
Precedent, military interests, and bipartisan support
The moratorium currently in place was imposed by Trump himself during his first term, in response to a similar rejection by Florida lawmakers of previous drilling plans.
That measure, celebrated at the time by both parties, was seen as a triumph of federalism and environmental protection against corporate interests.
The Gulf area where the new bids are expected also coincides with high-sensitivity military training areas.
Interfering in these areas could affect not only the readiness of the Armed Forces but also key logistical agreements with air and naval bases in the southern part of the state.
"We urge you to maintain your current moratorium and to keep Florida's coasts off the negotiating table for oil and gas concessions. Florida's economy, environment, and military readiness depend on this commitment," the letter concludes.
Between oil and ecology: the American dilemma
The decision to reactivate drilling in deep waters is part of a broader policy by Trump to strengthen domestic oil and gas production, at the expense of renewable energies.
Its administration has reversed key regulations from the Obama-Biden era, blocked clean energy projects, and granted more power to the extractive sector.
In the international context, the measure also has geopolitical implications. The United States has recently sanctioned Russian companies in the oil sector and has pressured Venezuela, reshaping the landscape of energy suppliers.
In this context, the focus on self-sufficiency gains political weight, albeit with high environmental costs.
Organizations like Oceana and Greenpeace have warned about the risk of ecological disasters similar to the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010. "This plan paves the way for a new ecological disaster," they stated.
Public comments and the future of the plan
The Department of the Interior is keeping a public comment period open until the end of January, indicating that the plan could still be modified.
However, the inclusion of specific bids in waters near Florida and California has raised alarms in both states.
In Florida, where tourism generates over 100 billion dollars annually and employs more than a million people, the prospect of seeing oil platforms on the horizon is perceived not only as an environmental threat but also as a direct blow to the heart of its economy.
What is clear is that, at least for now, Florida Republicans have drawn a line in the sand: they are not willing to sacrifice their coastline in the name of Trump's energy dominance. The question is whether the president will listen to them.
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