Filed Date: April 2, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Four environmental organizations—Healthy Gulf, Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, and Turtle Island Restoration Network—filed suit against seven federal officials on April 2, 2026, challenging actions related to Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance in Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activities. The plaintiffs alleged that on March 31, 2026, six federal officials calling themselves the "Endangered Species Committee" granted a sweeping exemption excusing federal agencies from ESA requirements when implementing Gulf oil and gas activities. This exemption was allegedly issued without following the detailed substantive or procedural requirements set forth in the ESA, and was based entirely on a March 13, 2026 "National Security Finding" by the Secretary of Defense asserting that ongoing or future litigation "threatens national security." The complaint emphasized that the Gulf is home to more than two dozen threatened and endangered species, including the critically imperiled Rice's whale with only about 50 individuals remaining. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief, including vacatur of both the Defense Secretary's Finding and the Committee's Exemption, arguing that these actions violated the ESA and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Ben Hefter (4/5/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73133248/parties/healthy-gulf-v-burgum/
Mashuda, Stephen D. (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73133248/healthy-gulf-v-burgum/
Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:08 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 2, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Four environmental nonprofits: Healthy Gulf, Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, and Turtle Island Restoration Network.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01118
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Environmental Justice and Resources:
Environmental Impact Statements
Petroleum and petroleum byproducts
Case Summary of Healthy Gulf v. Burgum, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48017/ (last updated 4/5/2026).