RSC Heat Team Applauds Historic Gulf of America Lease Sale
Section 50102 of the OBBA made much-needed changes to the government’s five-year plan for oil and gas drilling leases. The previous plan, approved by the Biden-Harris Administration for 2024 through 2029, was the smallest in history and only allowed one lease sale every two years in the Gulf of America. The new law, passed by Republicans in Congress and signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, requires the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to hold at least 30 region-wide sales in the Gulf of America, starting with one by December 15, 2025. After this first sale, BOEM must hold at least two lease sales per year from 2026 through 2039, plus one additional sale by March 15, 2040.
Today, BOEM released its Final Notice of Sale for the Gulf of America Lease Sale: Big Beautiful Gulf 1 (BBG1). This sale will make roughly 80 million acres available for oil and gas companies to lease and is the first of 30 mandated sales. Companies will submit their bids by December 10, 2025.
The RSC HEAT team thanked President Trump and his Administration for their timely implementation of the law and celebrated this historic achievement:
“Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts are already delivering results for the American people. The Trump Administration is taking action to increase American energy production, strengthen our energy security, and lower costs for families. This first lease sale shows what’s possible when we cut anti-energy red tape and make American energy dominance a priority,” said RSC HEAT Chairman Troy Balderson (OH-12).
“The road to American energy independence runs right through the Gulf of America,” said RSC HEAT Vice-Chairman Randy Weber (TX-14). “The historic legislation we passed this July cleared the way for American energy again, and BOEM moving ahead with the Big Beautiful Gulf 1 (BBG1) sale shows it’s already paying off. This first sale is another milestone in the Trump Administration’s work to unleash American energy and keep our nation strong.”
"The Biden-Harris Administration severely limited American energy production and supported laws that restricted access to our nation's vast energy resources. I was proud to vote for historic legislation to remove these barriers and support American energy workers," said RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11). "I am thrilled to see BOEM moving forward with BBG1, which will be the first of many sales to expand American energy independence."
“Thanks to President Trump and our Working Families Tax Cut, the first One Big Beautiful Bill lease sale in the Gulf of America opens for bids today, and we are finally restoring American energy dominance once more. With their failed anti-American energy policies, ‘Green New Scam’ regulations, and attempts to block lease sales, the Biden Administration put America’s energy and national security at risk and raised costs on American families and small businesses. President Trump and Republicans have put an end to their madness. We followed through on our promise to unleash American energy with the passage of our historic Working Families Tax Cut, which required lease sales in the Gulf of America. I’m excited to see this lease sale move forward, strengthening our energy dominance, lowering energy costs for hardworking American families, creating more jobs here at home, and bolstering our energy security,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-01).
“The upcoming lease sales announced by the Trump administration, and required by the Working Families Tax Cuts law, will boost American energy production, create thousands of American jobs, and lower energy costs for American families. Republican members of the Resources Committee are committed to working with President Trump to unleash American resources and make energy in America more affordable and reliable,” said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04).
“President Trump has driven high-value manufacturing back onshore at a scale not seen in decades, and both that renaissance and the rapid growth of AI and data-intensive industries are driving unprecedented new demand for reliable power. That economic expansion is only sustainable if we have the energy capacity to support it. The way forward is to unleash American production, and BOEM’s lease sale is precisely the kind of action required to meet this moment with abundant domestic energy and to restore true American energy dominance,” said Rep. Andy Barr (KY-06).
“Increasing America’s energy production is critical to lowering energy costs and unleashing economic growth,” said Rep. Craig Goldman (TX-12). “I’m pleased that energy policies passed by my House Republican colleagues and me have swiftly unlocked offshore oil and gas lease sales.”
“The Biden-Harris Administration’s failure to hold robust lease sales in the Gulf has hurt American families and jobs while threatening our energy independence. I was proud to help pass H.R. 1 to unleash American energy and restore certainty in our leasing process. I applaud the Trump Administration for moving forward with Lease Sale 262, an important step toward strengthening U.S. energy security and global leadership,” said Rep. Jeff Crank (CO-05).
"President Trump and Republicans delivered on our promise to unleash American energy production. For years, the Biden-Harris Administration strangled our energy independence with the smallest leasing program in history, offering just one sale every two years and leaving American energy workers behind. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reversed that disaster, requiring at least 30 region-wide sales through 2040 with reduced royalty rates that will lower costs and boost production. BOEM is now moving forward with the Big Beautiful Gulf 1 lease sale, the first of many that will restore American energy dominance. I was proud to vote for this legislation, and I'm even prouder to see it delivering results for American workers,” said Rep. Pat Harrigan (NC-10).
“On behalf of American families, Republicans in the House and Senate have delivered on the promises made by President Donald Trump to again make America energy independent. The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, now law, will end Biden policies of climate extremism, streamline permits, and review regulations that impose undue burdens on energy production and use. This sale for leases in the Outer Continental Shelf is a first step,” said Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02).
“After four years of the Biden administration waging war on our nation’s energy production, Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill to deliver generational reforms to unleash American energy. As we are beginning to reap the benefits of this legislation, I look forward to seeing these sales continue,” said Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06).
"The Working Families Tax Cuts Act delivers on Republicans' promise of delivering American Energy Dominance, and this lease sale is the first step," said Rep. Buddy Carter (GA-01). "Americans will reap the benefits of abundant, affordable energy for generations to come."