Okaloosa County Veteran Urges Trump to Block Offshore Drilling in Gulf
Florida Veteran Urges Trump to Reverse Course on Gulf Drilling Plan
A Florida veteran and small business owner is appealing to President Donald Trump to reconsider his administration’s proposal to expand offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, warning that the plan threatens the region’s economic and environmental well-being.
Shane Weddle, owner of Fastsigns in Fort Walton Beach/Destin, and a Republican who voted for Trump, argues that the Gulf Coast’s unique combination of thriving tourism, critical military installations, and strong community values are at risk. He is asking the President to intervene and direct the Department of Interior to reverse its course.
“The Gulf Coast offers a rare trifecta: unmatched beaches and waterways that fuel a robust tourism and recreation industry, critical military installations that safeguard our nation and drive our economy, and a true sense of community rooted in shared values,” Weddle wrote in an opinion piece distributed by The Invading Sea. “As a veteran, a small business owner and a Republican who voted for President Donald Trump, I can tell you that this trifecta is what keeps our region great.”
Weddle’s concerns center on the potential for environmental disaster. He points to the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of offshore drilling. “One spill, one accident, one bad decision offshore could undo generations of stewardship and prosperity,” he stated. “We’ve seen this happen before. About 15 years ago, the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster gushed toxic oil in the Gulf for weeks, decimating wildlife, shutting down fishing and recreation, reducing property values and ultimately leading to a barrage of vacation cancellations that took years to recover—even in areas that saw no oil on their beaches.”
The economic impact of a potential spill is also a major concern. Weddle emphasized that tourism and recreation are the “economic cornerstone” of the region, supporting thousands of small businesses. Florida’s marine economy generated $40 billion in 2021 alone, and even the *perception* of pollution could drive tourists away.
Beyond the economic and environmental risks, Weddle highlighted the importance of the Gulf region to national security. He noted the presence of Eglin Air Force Base and other military installations, which rely on the area’s open waters for critical training and testing. “Eglin and nearby installations and training ranges over the eastern Gulf provide unmatched open-water instruction and testing opportunities that exist nowhere else in the United States,” he explained. “These waters are essential for weapons testing, pilot training and maintaining America’s military edge. Offshore drilling infrastructure and industrial activity threatens access and, with it, our national security and the steady economic engine these bases provide to local communities.”
Brig. Gen. Mark A. Massaro, commander of the 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, has also expressed concerns about protecting the test range from the impacts of expanded offshore drilling, according to Weddle.
Weddle acknowledged that President Trump previously issued a 10-year moratorium protecting Florida’s Gulf Coast from offshore drilling during his first term, a decision that earned bipartisan support and solidified the “Don’t Drill Florida” movement. He is now urging the President to reaffirm that commitment.
“Trump is the one person who can stop this proposal with one word to the federal bureaucrats who put forth this plan,” Weddle wrote. “As someone who voted for him, served this country and built a business here, I’m asking him to keep his promise. Protect our Gulf, our military readiness and our way of life. Remove the eastern Gulf of America from the federal drilling plan.”
Weddle’s appeal underscores the deep connection between the community, the environment, and the military presence in Northwest Florida, and the shared desire to preserve the region’s unique character.