Overview
- The Endangered Species Committee, a six-agency “God Squad” that can override the law, met Tuesday for the first time in decades and voted 6-0 to waive Endangered Species Act rules for Gulf drilling.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said lawsuits and Iran-related risks threatened Gulf output, but experts note no court has ordered production to stop.
- Environmental groups led by Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth and Healthy Gulf sued Thursday in Washington, saying the rushed process broke statutory steps and exceeded authority.
- Scientists warn the waiver endangers dozens of protected species, especially the Rice’s whale, which has about 50 animals left and faces lethal risks from ship strikes, noise and oil spills.
- Analysts say Gulf crude is already near record highs and any extra output tied to the waiver would take years because offshore projects have long timelines and pending cases could freeze the policy.