04.01.26
Trump Admin Exempts Gulf of Mexico Drillers from the Endangered Species Act
By Pete StaufferHeader Image: Aerial view of a Rice's whale in the Gulf of Mexico. Image: NOAA/NEFSC
On March 30, a committee of senior Trump administration officials voted to exempt the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas industry from Endangered Species Act requirements that protect over twenty species of whales, birds, and sea turtles in the Gulf. The decision, the first of its kind in more than three decades, is the latest effort by President Donald Trump's government to unwind our nation’s environmental laws. The decision not only threatens the future survival of numerous endangered species, it further promotes the exploitation of the Gulf region as a sacrifice zone for U.S. energy production.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, one of the Trump administration officials who advocated for the move, has claimed that exempting the oil and gas industry from federal law is critical to our national security. However, the U.S. is currently the number one producer of oil and gas in the world and has been a net oil exporter since 2020. Further, new offshore drilling will not lower the price at the pump, as gas prices are set by global supply and demand, which fluctuate based on geopolitical factors, including wars and international conflict. The true path to U.S. energy independence is through investments in homegrown renewable energy projects such as solar and wind.
The administration’s reckless action to waive Endangered Species Act requirements in the Gulf will pave the way for even more oil and gas drilling as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management prepares to release its updated federal offshore drilling plan. The move will also further damage Gulf marine ecosystems and communities, and push endangered species such as the Rice’s whale, sperm whale, green sea turtle, and giant manta ray towards extinction. The Rice’s whale is one of the rarest in the world and scientists estimate that there are only about 50 remaining. With the population level so low, the recovery of the species depends upon the protection of each remaining whale.
Surfrider Foundation has joined 65 other organizations in urging Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to oppose this radical action and has requested prompt disclosure of all relevant documents required by law. Surfrider will continue our fight to protect the Gulf and other U.S. regions from any new offshore oil and gas drilling. This month, Surfrider leaders and ocean industry partners will travel to Washington D.C. to urge the Trump administration to cancel its plans for new offshore drilling. Surfrider will also meet with over 125 Congressional offices during Coastal Recreation Hill Day on April 29 and 30 to urge House and Senate members to push back on the administration's plans.
Surfrider urges our supporters to take action today by urging Congress to protect our coasts from new offshore drilling.