Trump Administration Opens Review of Rice's Whale Endangered Listing After Industry Comments

The Trump administration solicited public comments on May 5, 2026, to reconsider the Endangered Species Act listing of the Rice's Whale, formerly known as the Bryde's Whale. Forbes reported that five energy-industry associations submitted comments on July 6 arguing the 2021 listing violated ESA requirements for best scientific data and a transparent public process.

The associations, including the American Petroleum Institute, Offshore Operators Committee, National Ocean Industries Association, EnerGeo Alliance, and Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association, stated that the listing relied on a single mitochondrial DNA study and an internal committee process chaired by NMFS scientists whose role was not disclosed during the original review.

The Rice's Whale received separate species status under the ESA in 2021. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced reforms on July 17 making it harder for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enter consent decrees with activist groups over ESA listings based on the diminishing-habitat argument.

Burgum said the law has been weaponized to stop projects, driving up costs and weakening competitiveness, and that success should be measured by species recovery rather than additions to the list. The Center for Biological Diversity said the Rice's Whale is the only endemic whale species found within the United States and that its population stands at about 51 animals.

The review follows Executive Order No.

14303 signed in May 2025, which established a gold standard science requirement for federal decisions, and the Supreme Court's June 2024 ruling in Loper Bright v. Raimondo that ended Chevron Deference.