Two House Armed Services Committee members, John Garamendi (CA-D) and Salud Carbajal, both California Democrats, spoke out about the Department of Interior’s proposed oil and gas leasing program, which would allow drilling in coastal areas near military installations. 

“Our military must be able to train and operate without interference from incompatible industrial activities,” Garamendi said . “The proposed expansion of offshore oil and gas leasing raises serious concerns about its potential impact on military readiness, particularly in areas that have long been recognized as vital to our national defense.” 

In a letter sent to Navy Secretary John Phelan, they and 12 other committee Democrats urged the Navy to investigate the proposal and report on the impacts of new offshore drilling in military preparation space. 

Navy photo by Timothy Dimal