Beyer Introduces Legislation to Reverse Unprecedented Attack on Endangered Species in the Gulf

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced the Protect Gulf Life Act to nullify the March 31 decision by the Endangered Species Committee - also known colloquially as the "God Squad" or the "Extinction Committee" - to broadly exempt all oil and gas operations across the Gulf from complying with Endangered Species Act protections.

"Congress did not establish the Endangered Species Committee to give out sweeping exemptions to special interests, and this abuse of power is another corrupt handout to benefit industry at the expense of threatened species," said Rep. Beyer. "If Trump wants to address the energy crisis and outrageous price spikes he caused, he should simply end his illegal war against Iran. This unprecedented decision bypassed legally-required procedures, blocked my attendance at a public meeting, and put some of the Gulf's most vulnerable wildlife at even greater risk of extinction. This is a particular threat to the Rice's whale, the only whale species found exclusively in U.S. waters, of which only about 50 remain. The consequences of weakening these protections extend far beyond a single species, and my Protect Gulf Life Act would restore these protections to ensure a healthy Gulf ecosystem that supports thriving fisheries, tourism, recreation, and coastal economies across the region."

The Endangered Species Committee was created by Congress to address extraordinarily rare situations in which a proposed federal project conflicts with endangered species protections and no reasonable alternatives exist. This was only the fourth time the Endangered Species Committee met since its creation in 1978 and the first time it has been convened on national security rather than economic grounds. Unlike prior Endangered Species Committee decisions, which focused on narrowly defined projects affecting a specific threatened or endangered species, the March 31 exemption applies broadly to all oil and gas operations across more than 600,000 square miles of the Gulf and affects 20 threatened and endangered species. The Endangered Species Committee also failed to comply with multiple procedural requirements established under the Endangered Species Act, including public notice and transparency requirements.

Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Shomari Figures (D-AL), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Jared Huffman (D-CA), and Darren Soto (D-FL) are original co-sponsors of the Protect Gulf Life Act.

This legislation is also supported by organizations including the Animal Welfare Institute, the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice Action, the Endangered Species Coalition, Oceana, Save the Manatee Club, Sea Turtle Conservancy, Sierra Club, and the Turtle Island Restoration Network.

"We commend Congressman Beyer for standing up to the God Squad and speaking out at a time when our nation's endangered wildlife are at greatest risk from an antagonistic administration. This important legislation to rescind the God Squad's illegal and unprecedented action is as critical as protecting the last remaining 50 Rice's whales. Without this legislative action, our cherished marine wildlife, from the Rice's whale to manatees and sea turtles, will suffer from this brazen abuse of the God Squad process," said Andrew Bowman, President and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife.

"The Trump Administration's so-called God Squad's vote to let the oil-and-gas industry wipe endangered species off the face of the planet is not only illegal, but also the opposite of what Gulf communities want," said Earthjustice Action Legislative Representative Kristin Butler. "This egregious free-pass to kill Gulf wildlife won't lower gas prices, which are skyrocketing due to a self-made crisis by the White House. But it will erase beloved species like manatees, sea turtles, and whales. The proposed "Protect Gulf Life Act," which would reverse the widely unpopular God Squad decision, could be the difference between thriving Gulf wildlife and the ecosystems they support, and permanent extinction."

"The Protect Gulf Life Act is the kind of courage our most endangered species need right now," said Oceana Campaign Manager Julia Singer. "This bill would put a stop to the reckless move by the Trump administration to put short-term profits over entire species' survival. When a species is gone, it's gone. The Endangered Species Act is the safeguard against that calamitous and entirely avoidable outcome. With this act, we can ensure species like the Rice's whale live to see another day. We commend Representatives Beyer for his leadership on this issue and urge Congress to join in the overwhelming public support for these protections by passing this bill."

Full text of the legislation is available here, with a one-pager available here.