The federal Endangered Species Committee moved Tuesday to exempt all oil and gas activities in the Gulf of America from the Endangered Species Act requirements, citing national security concerns.
The committee, known as the “God Squad” or the “Extinction Committee” because of its power to override rules protecting species from extinction, unanimously voted for the exemption Tuesday as the Iran war upends the global energy supply.
“Bottom line, to be as secure as a nation, we need a steady, affordable supply of our own energy,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during the meeting. “This is not just about gas prices. It’s about our ability to power our military and protect our nation. That vital energy supply right now is under threat.”
He said that in January, before the U.S.-Israeli strike against Iran on Feb. 28, the Interior Department notified the Defense Department about ongoing Endangered Species Act litigation that threatened to halt oil and gas production in the Gulf. Such lawsuits sought to stop fossil fuel activities “rather than allowing the integration of oil and gas production with responsible endangered species protections,” Mr. Hegseth said.
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His March 13 notice said an exemption for oil and gas drilling in the Gulf was “necessary for reasons of national security,” according to a court filing from the administration.
Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll said disruptions to oil and gas production in the Gulf would “significantly impact the army’s ability to man, train and equip combat-ready formations.”
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum pointed to current events that show the “impact of what can happen when major energy sources are taken offline,” referring to Iran tightening its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping channel.
About 20% of the world’s oil passes through Hormuz, while the Gulf of America produces about 15% of U.S. oil.
“Disruptions to Gulf oil production doesn’t hurt just us; it benefits our adversaries,” Mr. Hegseth said. “We cannot allow our own rules to weaken our standing and strengthen those who wish to harm us.”
An exemption from the Endangered Species Act, which protects certain species, could doom Rice’s whale, causing outrage among environmental groups.
Environmental disasters in the Gulf include multiple million-gallon oil spills, such as one earlier this month that contaminated at least six species.
This meeting comes as the Trump administration is looking to ease the soaring price of gas while focusing on expanding fossil fuel production.
The first meeting of the Endangered Species Committee in more than three decades was the result of Mr. Trump declaring a “national energy emergency” in January 2025, calling on the committee to meet quarterly.
Other initiatives include funding for a deepwater oil drilling project in the Gulf, restarting a pipeline off the coast of California and lifting high-ethanol gasoline restrictions so it can be sold year-round.
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