Environmental NGOs Sue Trump Administration Over Endangered Rice’s Whale Protection Rollback
A group of U.S. environmental NGOs has taken legal action against the Trump administration for reversing guidance aimed at safeguarding the critically endangered Rice’s whale. This ultra-rare species, with only an estimated 50 individuals remaining, is exclusively found in the U.S. Gulf. Conservationists fear that without adequate protection, the Rice’s whale could face extinction due to human activities, potentially becoming the first whale species to disappear before the North Atlantic right whale.
Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the Centre for Biological Diversity, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced protection measures for Rice’s whales. She stated, “[Rice’s whales] are on the brink of extinction, and the few dozen left alive desperately need more protections from speeding vessels and offshore oil drilling activity, not less.”
Initially identified as a distinct species in 2021, the Rice’s whale is a close relative of the Bryde’s whale. Over 100 marine scientists in 2022 called for the exclusion of oil and gas activities from the whale’s habitat to ensure its survival.
In response to these concerns, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) implemented protective measures in Rice’s whale habitat areas. These measures included the removal of lease blocks from a federal auction and the enforcement of speed limits and navigation restrictions in specific water depths where the whale feeds.
However, following opposition from oil companies, a federal judge prevented BOEM from incorporating these protections into the requirements of a 2023 lease auction. Subsequently, on February 20, 2025, BOEM rescinded the guidance altogether, citing the Interior Department’s new directive to promote energy exploration.
In light of these developments, environmental NGOs, including Friends of the Earth, Centre for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club, and the Turtle Island Restoration Network, have announced their intent to sue the government to reinstate the protective recommendations for Rice’s whales. While BOEM’s guidance was never made mandatory, these organizations are advocating for its official reinstatement as policy to ensure the survival of the species.
Hallie Templeton, legal director for Friends of the Earth, denounced the administration’s actions, stating, “It cannot be overstated: Trump is dealing a death blow to the critically endangered Rice’s whale in the name of Big Oil handouts.”