Protect Gulf Wildlife from Trump’s “Extinction Committee”

The Trump administration is once again putting endangered wildlife at risk to benefit the fossil fuel industry.

In a shocking move, officials have convened the Endangered Species Committee — often called the “Extinction Committee” — in an attempt to weaken protections for whales, sea turtles, and other marine wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico so oil drilling can move forward.

This powerful and rarely used committee has the authority to override the Endangered Species Act, one of our nation’s most important wildlife protection laws. If the committee grants an exemption, oil and gas development could proceed even if it puts already imperiled species closer to extinction.

Among the species at risk is the critically endangered Rice’s whale — one of the rarest whales on Earth. Scientists estimate that only a few dozen remain in the Gulf of Mexico. Increased ship traffic, seismic blasting, pollution, and the risk of devastating oil spills from offshore drilling all threaten the fragile habitat these whales depend on to survive.

Sea turtles, dolphins, and countless other marine species would also face increased danger from expanded industrial activity in these waters.

The Endangered Species Act exists to prevent exactly this kind of reckless decision-making. It requires the federal government to ensure its actions do not push vulnerable wildlife toward extinction. Instead of following the law and protecting endangered species, the administration is attempting to sidestep these protections to prop up dirty energy.

That is unacceptable.

Our oceans are already under enormous pressure from climate change, pollution, and industrial development. Weakening safeguards for endangered species now would be a dangerous step backward.

We cannot allow political appointees to sacrifice some of the planet’s most vulnerable wildlife for the benefit of oil and gas companies.

The Trump administration must immediately disband this so-called “Extinction Committee,” abandon efforts to weaken Endangered Species Act protections, and follow the law.

America’s wildlife — from the last remaining Gulf whales to endangered sea turtles — deserves protection, not extinction. Donald Trump and his political appointees must stop putting Big Oil ahead of our oceans, our climate, and the wildlife that depends on them.

The petition to the Trump Administration reads: Disband the so-called “Extinction Committee” and stop trying to override the Endangered Species Act to expand offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Your administration must follow the law, protect endangered whales, sea turtles, and other marine wildlife, and end efforts to prop up the dirty fossil fuel industry at the expense of our oceans and irreplaceable species.
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Source:

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/trump-burgum-convene-extinction-committee-for-gulf-of-mexico-whales-sea-turtles-2026-03-16/