This week on Tuesday, the Federal Endangered Species Commission held a rare meeting out of national security concerns and unanimously voted to grant a waiver, allowing oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico to be exempt from the restrictions of the Endangered Species Act.
Doug Burgum, the Secretary of the Interior, served as the chairman of the commission and convened the meeting in accordance with relevant legal provisions. Earlier, on March 13, he received a national security assessment submitted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth stated that oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico is a cornerstone of national security, providing 15% of the U.S. crude oil supply. He said, “This is not just about oil prices, but about our ability to provide energy for our military and defend our country. This crucial energy supply is currently facing threats.”
Over the past month, the escalation of conflicts in Iran and the Middle East has intensified global oil and gas supply pressures, leading to an increase in fuel prices. The average gasoline price in the U.S. has now exceeded $4 per gallon.
Hegseth pointed out that the ongoing lawsuits in federal courts trying to halt oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico are not about coexisting with responsible endangered species protection measures. These lawsuits waste valuable government resources and make it difficult for energy companies to plan and invest in new projects.
He emphasized that energy production in the Gulf of Mexico also provides a buffer for the United States, shielding the economy and military from international turmoil, “We can produce energy in a cleaner, more efficient manner on American soil while creating job opportunities.”
According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Gulf of Mexico accounts for about 13% of the U.S. crude oil supply, with a daily production of around 1.8 million barrels in 2025, slightly increasing to 1.81 million barrels this year.
After confirming the relevant assessments, the commission members unanimously passed a resolution for a permanent exemption.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll expressed full support for the measure, noting that any production disruptions would “severely impact the Army’s ability to organize, train, and equip combat forces,” highlighting the critical importance of specific fuels from the Gulf of Mexico for military operations.
Neil Jacobs, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, stated that he had reviewed the National Marine Fisheries Service’s assessment report for 2025, which suggested that oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico could lead to the extinction of the endangered Rice’s whale. However, he mentioned that this conclusion no longer applied and said, “I support today’s decision.”
Rice’s whale is classified as critically endangered, with fewer than 100 individuals residing in the Gulf of Mexico throughout the year.
The environmental organization Sierra Club issued a statement the day before the meeting, criticizing the government’s actions as endorsing oil and gas development, which not only threatens Rice’s whale but also affects sea turtles, coral reefs, and deep-sea ecosystems.
The statement read, “If the commission allows oil and gas activities to be exempt from the Endangered Species Act, Rice’s whale is likely to face extinction, and other threatened species will also be severely impacted.”
Prior to this meeting, the Endangered Species Commission, known to environmentalists as the “God Squad,” had not convened for over 30 years.
The Center for Biological Diversity previously filed lawsuits attempting to prevent the meeting from taking place, but a federal judge denied issuing a temporary restraining order.