The future of offshore drilling just became more unclear. On November 20, 2025, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Bureau) announced a proposed 5-year plan to reopen areas of the continental shelf for offshore drilling that had previously been closed. This announcement comes days after Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum issued Secretary’s Order 3445, which terminated the Biden Administration’s 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which proposed only 3 new lease sales in the Gulf—the fewest number of sales ever—and directed the Bureau to begin developing “a new, more expansive” program as soon as possible. The proposed new plan calls for 34 lease sales, covering over 1.27 billion acres, in the Gulf and off the coasts of Alaska and California. Many of these areas had previously been closed by past presidents in order to protect sensitive ecosystems and prevent future oil spills.
EPA and Army Corps Propose New Definition for WOTUS
December 1st, 2025 — by Taylor Young — Category: Clean Water Act
On November 17, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) proposed a new rule to change the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). Defining WOTUS may seem technical or insignificant, but it is central to understanding which bodies of water are subject to federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (CWA). It affects day-to-day decisions such as how to comply with federal law, when permits are required, and which permits are needed. According to the EPA and the Corps, by providing a clear and durable definition, this proposal may help accelerate economic growth and opportunities.
