Trump Administration sends mixed signals about Florida drilling deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a Congressional hearing this morning, Walter Cruickshank, Acting Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, reneged on DOI Secretary Ryan Zinke’s promise to take Florida off the table for Trump’s offshore drilling plan.

The 5-year plan, which was announced the first week of January, offers up more of our oceans to offshore drilling than ever before. After discussions with Florida’s Governor, Zinke tweeted earlier this week that Florida was safe from drilling activity.

In response, Marcie Keever, Friends of the Earth Oceans and Vessels Program Director, issued the following statement:

The news out of this morning’s hearing is another indication that in this administration, the left hand has no clue what the right hand is doing. Despite the contradictory information, one thing is clear: Trump and his appointees are clearly in the pocket of Big Oil and will do anything to give our public lands and oceans away and destroy our environment in the process.  Our oceans and coastlines should be protected, not used as pawns in the Trump Administration’s political games.

Expert contact: Marcie Keever, (510) 900-3144, [email protected]
Communications contact: Erin Jensen (202) 222-0722, [email protected]