Jefferson County ‘advocacy report’ covers nine-year effort to save vital coastal conservation funding program
April 7, the U.S. Department of Interior announced a record $460.9 million in energy revenue for the four Gulf of America energy-producing states — Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas — along with their coastal counties and parishes.
This year’s distribution reflects a major increase through President Donald J. Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which raised the statutory cap to states from $375 million to $487.6 million per year beginning with the fiscal year 2025 revenues. The disbursement reflecting these changes resulted in the largest disbursement ever made to the Gulf states and their coastal political subdivisions.
Of the more than $124.5 million dispersed to the state of Texas, Jefferson County will receive more than $1.65 million; $818,125 is going to Orange County.
“This record disbursement demonstrates President Trump’s commitment to responsible energy development that strengthens America’s energy security while directly investing in the communities that power it,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “By returning offshore revenues to the Gulf region, we are supporting the infrastructure, restoration work and local economies that make continued production possible. These investments reflect the long-term vision for American Energy Dominance that expends opportunity, protects vital coastal resources, and ensures the Gulf of America remains a cornerstone of our nation’s economic strength.”
The revenue sharing disbursement marks the ninth year of the Gulf of America Energy Security Act Phase II (formerly GOMESA) which has brought $600 million to the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and more than $9.5 million to Jefferson County, according to county officials.
Coastal conservation undertaken by GLO and Jefferson County using federal offshore revenue included large projects such as McFaddin Beach and Dune Restoration.
The 17-mile restoration effort reduces the Gulf’s saltwater reaching Texas’ largest coastal wetland which is in Jefferson County. Several state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations and industry have partnered in the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge project and other vital coastal restoration projects.
The McFaddin project was the nation’s largest beach and dune project in Fiscal Year 2021 at 61% of all federal beach and dune funding. Last year, the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge beach won the “Best Restored Beaches Award” from the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association.
Jefferson County Commissioners Court has taken the occasion of the 2026 federal funding notice to provide a 68-page report detailing a nine-year advocacy effort to save GOMESA, (now renamed GOAESA after Gulf of America name change).
Phase II of GOMESA began in the last year of the Obama Administration when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sought to zero it out.
OMB made a second attempt to halt revenue sharing in 2017 in President Donald Trump’s first term but then halted future raids on GOMESA when Jefferson County and the Gulf States Counties and Parishes Caucus of the National Association of Counties (NACo) pushed back.
The pro-revenue sharing advocates then won Trump Administration support for the program, along with increased offshore oil and gas leasing.
Last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill contained a 30% revenue sharing hike that Jefferson, Nueces, and Kleberg County the Gulf States Caucus of NACo championed since 2020.
— Dannie Oliveaux, dannieoliveaux@theexaminer.com
