U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Bill Cassidy Fight for American Energy Dominance with New Lease Sales in Gulf of Mexico

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and several of their Senate Republican colleagues in the introduction of the Offshore Energy Security Act of 2025. The legislation requires the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to hold two offshore oil and gas lease sales per year for 10 years.

“It is past time to unleash American energy dominance. Alabama’s Gulf Coast plays an essential role in fueling our nation and supporting our national security—I look forward to working with the Trump Administration to reverse leftwing policies and reckless federal overreach in order to drive down costs for hardworking Alabama families,” said Senator Britt.

The current five-year plan for offshore oil and gas drafted under the Biden-Harris Administration only suggests three lease sales over five years. Given 2024 was the last year without an offshore lease sale in more than 50 years, it is important to provide long-term leasing certainty companies can rely on.

The Offshore Energy Security Act of 2025 would mandate two offshore oil and gas lease sales per year for ten years and provide certainty to offshore energy producers to continue investing in the United States. The bill also codifies President Trump’s 2020 memorandum to withdraw the Eastern Gulf of Mexico from leasing for the duration of the legislation.

“The Biden administration shut down offshore energy development. 2024 was the first time in over 50 years there was not a single lease sale held in the Gulf,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This distinctly violates the law, costs thousands of Louisiana jobs, drives up oil prices, and empowers foreign dictators. We’re putting an end to this.”

In addition to mandating sales, the bill also defines acreage, stipulates lease terms and conditions, defines which previously finalized environmental reviews will apply to the sales, and ensures that both issued leases and drilling permit applications are not either invalidated, remanded, or delayed as a result of civil litigation.

Joining Senators Britt and Cassidy in cosponsoring this legislation are Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).

The full text of the Offshore Energy Security Act of 2025 can be found here.  

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