California Sues Trump
California officials filed a lawsuit Friday seeking to block the federal government’s approval of a Texas-based energy company’s plan to restart two offshore oil pipelines along the state’s coast, intensifying a legal battle over President Donald Trump’s push to expand U.S. energy production.
The lawsuit challenges federal authorization granted to Sable Offshore Corp., which plans to resume oil production near Santa Barbara. The offshore platforms were shut down following a major oil spill nearly a decade ago.
Federal officials say the project aligns with the Trump administration’s goal of restoring American energy independence and reducing fuel costs for consumers.
State Officials Claim Federal Overreach
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, said the state maintains regulatory authority over the pipelines as they pass through Santa Barbara and Kern counties.
“The federal administration does not have the authority to override California’s regulatory process,” Bonta said, arguing that the state must protect its coastline and nearby communities from potential safety risks.
State officials say the lawsuit is intended to preserve California’s ability to regulate infrastructure within its borders.
Federal Regulators Push Back
The federal agency that approved the project rejected California’s claims.
A spokesperson for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said restarting the Las Flores Pipeline would help deliver American-produced energy to California, which continues to experience the highest gasoline prices in the nation.
Federal officials argue that modern safety standards and oversight significantly reduce the risk of pipeline failures.
Sable Offshore did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump Reversed Biden-Era Drilling Restrictions
President Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office reversing former President Joe Biden’s ban on new offshore oil drilling along the East and West coasts.
A federal judge later invalidated President Biden’s effort to block oil and gas activity across more than 600 million acres of federal waters, reopening the door to expanded offshore drilling.
In November, federal agencies announced new offshore drilling plans near California and Florida—moves long supported by the U.S. energy industry as a way to strengthen national security and stabilize energy prices.
Environmental Concerns Resurface
Opponents of the pipeline restart point to a 2015 rupture that spilled more than 140,000 gallons of oil along Southern California’s coastline, an incident that shut down offshore platforms in the region for years.
Environmental groups argue the spill damaged wildlife habitats and harmed the local fishing industry. Supporters counter that energy infrastructure failures are rare and that modern monitoring systems provide far stronger safeguards than in the past.
Jurisdiction Dispute at the Center of the Fight
Sable Offshore has faced multiple legal challenges but says it remains committed to restarting production, even if operations are limited to federal waters beyond California’s three-mile coastal boundary.
The offshore platforms involved are located between five and nine miles from shore, an area where state regulators have limited authority.
California Assemblymember Gregg Hart criticized the federal approval, accusing the administration of favoring oil companies over environmental protections.
California Continues Shift Away From Fossil Fuels
California has spent years reducing in-state fossil fuel production in favor of renewable energy. Santa Barbara County officials voted earlier this year to begin phasing out onshore oil and gas operations.
Critics argue those policies have increased reliance on out-of-state energy and contributed to rising fuel prices, while supporters say the transition is necessary for long-term environmental goals.
