Sierra Club Statement on OBBBA Lease Sale Announcements
August 19, 2025
Contact
Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of the Interior unveiled a fresh slate of oil and gas lease sales on fragile public lands and waters.
In a press release Tuesday, Interior announced a schedule of at least 30 offshore oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf and Alaska’s Cook Inlet, as mandated by the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act. The schedule includes multiple sales every year through 2040.
The reconciliation bill narrowly approved by Congress in July and signed into law by Trump contains numerous handouts to corporations and billionaires, including massive tax breaks paid for by slashing funds meant for clean energy projects.
The first sale, which Interior is referring to as “Big Beautiful Gulf 1,” is scheduled for December 10, 2025.
In response, Athan Manuel, Director of Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program, released the following statement:
“Trump’s billionaire giveaway reconciliation bill declared open season on our precious public lands and waters. Trump promised Big Oil CEOs he would give them free rein if they backed his campaign, and he delivered with the most anti-environment law in our history. The lease sales announced today make it clear that as far as Trump is concerned, no area of public lands and waters is safe from drilling, mining, and logging if it offers a chance to boost the bottom lines of corporate polluters. The Sierra Club and our millions of members and supporters will continue to fight back, stand up to the billionaires and their allies, and protect our public lands for future generations.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
More From This Press Contact
Related Press Releases