The Department of the Interior announced on Apr. 3 the beginning of a phased plan to create the Marine Minerals Administration, which will combine the functions of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. The department said this move aims to improve coordination and increase efficiency in offshore leasing, permitting, inspections, and environmental oversight while keeping existing regulatory protections and safety standards in place.
The transition is significant as it addresses changes in offshore energy development by integrating management for both conventional resources and emerging areas such as critical minerals. The department said that aligning planning, leasing, and oversight under one agency will help meet current and future energy needs more effectively.
"President Trump has been laser focused on making the government work efficiently and effectively for the American people. This is about building an agency that reflects where we are today and where we need to go," Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said. "The Department is applying what we’ve learned over the past decade to deliver clearer coordination, better service to the public and stronger, more integrated oversight of offshore energy development."
According to officials, establishing the Marine Minerals Administration is intended as a strategic step toward modernizing how offshore resources are managed. By unifying resource planning, leasing decisions, and operational oversight within one structure, they hope to reduce duplication across agencies while improving decision-making throughout all stages of offshore development.
All existing statutory authorities and protections will remain during this transition period. Additional information about this process can be found at www.doi.gov/mma-transition.
