General Discussion

A committee led by the interior secretary known as the “God Squad” voted Tuesday to exempt oil and gas companies from complying with the Endangered Species Act when drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, a move expected to threaten Rice’s whale and other species with extinction.

Meeting for the first time in more than 30 years, the group — nicknamed for its ability to decide the fate of species — approved the exemption on “national security” grounds in a discussion that took about 15 minutes. Trump officials said the decision would protect critical domestic energy production at a time when global supplies are disrupted by the war with Iran. It’s the first time an administration has sought a national security exemption since the passage of the 1973 Endangered Species Act.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the committee the exemption was “a matter of urgent national security,” saying active lawsuits based on the Endangered Species Act threatened to halt oil and gas production.

“This is not just about gas prices. It’s about our ability to power our military and protect our nation,” Hegseth told the committee.....

There are currently about 51 Rice’s whales left, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. The population collapsed following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion at a BP-operated oil rig, which resulted in the largest-ever marine oil spill. The charcoal-colored whales — which were declared as a separate species in 2021 — have distinctive ridges on their heads and grow to about 40 feet long.