Trump administration moves to strip California of coastal management authority

Washington’s push to undermine California’s coastal oversight is being framed as a performance review of the state’s compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Act, a law that lets states object to federal projects that conflict with local policy. The process, overseen by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, starts with a public hearing in Santa Monica attended by regulators, lawmakers, environmental groups and community leaders.

Officials such as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have accused California of obstructing spaceport and offshore oil development, while legal experts describe the effort as unprecedented and likely to face court challenges. The state’s coastal commission, which has historically aligned with 96% of federal actions, argues its record is strong and welcomes scrutiny. If the review finds fault, California could lose its certification, potentially opening the Pacific coast to new oil and gas leases for the first time in over forty years. The outcome could influence how other coastal states protect their shorelines.