Trump officials exempt oil and gas drilling in the Gulf from endangered species rules
The rare vote removes federal wildlife limits for offshore drilling, despite warnings that only about 50 Rice’s whales remain.
- On Tuesday, the Endangered Species Committee, nicknamed the "God Squad," unanimously voted to exempt Gulf of Mexico oil drilling from the Endangered Species Act. Chaired by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the panel issued its first exemption in over three decades.
- Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth requested the exemption, arguing that litigation from environmental groups threatened domestic energy production. Speaking Tuesday, Hegseth claimed "recent hostile action" by the Iranian government underscored the need for robust domestic oil production to ensure national security.
- The rare Rice's Whale, with fewer than 100 remaining, faces extinction threats from the decision, environmentalists warn. Brett Hartl of the Center for Biological Diversity stated, "Americans overwhelmingly oppose sacrificing endangered whales and other marine life so the fossil fuel industry can get richer."
- Erik Milito of the National Ocean Industries Association praised the decision, arguing serial litigation should not obstruct projects of national importance. Environmental groups immediately vowed to challenge the vote, calling the action illegal.
- The Gulf of Mexico accounts for nearly 15% of U.S. crude oil production amid global energy shocks. With national average gasoline prices topping $4 for the first time since 2022, the administration seeks to accelerate energy projects to stabilize domestic supplies.
96 Articles
96 Articles
Trump exempts oil drilling companies from the Endangered Species Act by invoking special powers
"This really drives a stake through the heart of American wildlife law if it's allowed to stand," one environmentalist says as a move this week to fast-track oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is triggering alarm bells.
Burgum-led committee grants oil and gas industries exemption from Gulf wildlife protections
WASHINGTON — The Endangered Species Committee, also dubbed the "God Squad" and led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, voted Tuesday, March 31, to exempt oil and gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico from federal protections of endangered species. The night before the meeting, environmental and wildlife advocacy groups protested outside the Interior Department building and projected large messages on the walls, including “Doug Burgum’s Playing God …
California drillin’ & Endangered Species Committee (God Squad) waives ESA for Gulf of America exploration
“There are serious consequences if our ability to get oil from the Gulf is compromised...We cannot allow our own rules to weaken our standing and strengthen those who wish to harm us.” - Secretary of War Pete Hegseth In Episode 548 of District of Conservation, Gabriella discusses Sable Offshore Company restarting operations off Santa
Gulf fossil fuel operations granted exemption from Endangered Species Act protection
In this Aug. 8, 2020, file photo, an offshore petroleum drilling rig is shown in the Gulf of Mexico. (UIG via Getty Images, FILE) (WASHINGTON) — A federal committee, comprised of senior Trump administration officials, voted unanimously to grant an exemption under the Endangered Species Act for oil and gas operations in the Gulf, citing national security concerns. Environmental groups criticized the decision, warning that it could significantly j…
Trump administration's Endangered Species Committee approves loophole to allow Gulf oil drilling
A meeting of the federal Endangered Species Committee ended in a vote to approve the sidestepping of endangered species regulations for oil developers to drill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Trump’s ‘God Squad’ blocks endangered species protections in the Gulf of Mexico
The Endangered Species Act is the bedrock law that protects threatened plants and animals in the United States, and in the 50 years since it became law it has prevented thousands of resource-extraction projects — oil drilling, mining, and logging — from moving forward. The law is difficult to circumvent, but it does contain a key loophole. If the federal government wants to move forward with a project even though it will threaten an endangered s…
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