U.S. exempts Gulf oil drilling from endangered species rules in national security move
The Trump administration on Tuesday granted an exemption from the Endangered Species Act for oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The move was approved by the Endangered Species Committee, nicknamed the ‘God Squad,’ which includes several senior officials and is chaired by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the committee that environmental lawsuits threaten to hinder domestic energy supplies amid ongoing tensions with Iran. He cited the Strait of Hormuz as a critical shipping route and emphasized the need for robust U.S. oil production.
Environmental groups criticized the exemption, warning it could threaten the survival of the rare Rice’s whale, found exclusively in the Gulf. Biologists estimate only about 50 of the whales remain. Patrick Parenteau, a law professor at Vermont Law School, called the move potentially the first step toward species extinction.
The exemption marks the first time the panel has cited national security as a reason for granting such an exemption since its formation in 1978. Historically, the committee has only issued a few exemptions, including those for dam construction and logging. It last met in 1992, and its recent meeting followed a federal judge’s ruling that invalidated previous efforts to weaken endangered species protections.
Officials say the move aims to prevent disruptions to Gulf oil production, which supplies nearly 15% of U.S. crude. Critics argue the decision bypasses environmental safeguards and could set a dangerous precedent. The Gulf of Mexico remains a vital yet environmentally sensitive area, with past disasters like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill highlighting those risks.
Members of the committee, including the secretaries of agriculture, interior, and the Army, as well as EPA and NOAA administrators, voted unanimously in favor of the exemption. Environmental advocates vowed to challenge the decision in court, asserting it is both illegal and harmful to endangered species.
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