The Interior Department announced on April 3 that it will merge the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement into a new Marine Minerals Administration, a move designed to streamline oversight of offshore resources.

The reorganization echoes the 2011 dissolution of the Minerals Management Service, the agency that was split after the Deepwater Horizon spill and a series of ethics scandals. The split had left the industry with separate bodies for leasing, permitting and safety, a structure critics say slowed decision‑making.

The new agency will combine planning, leasing and oversight functions, a change the Interior Department says will “improve coordination and increase efficiencies across offshore leasing, permitting, inspections and environmental oversight, while maintaining all existing regulatory protections and rigorous safety standards.” The merger also reflects the need for a more integrated approach to managing conventional and emerging resources such as critical minerals, the department added. By aligning these functions, the agency aims to better meet current and future energy demands.

According to the department, the reorganization will help achieve President Donald Trump’s goal of greater government efficiency, a promise that was also highlighted in the 2024 election campaign. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the move would streamline decision‑making for drilling companies and support the United States’ energy strategy.

Industry analysts view the merger as a positive step toward faster permitting and clearer regulatory guidance, which could reduce lead times for new offshore projects. The streamlined structure is expected to support the growth of both conventional drilling and critical mineral development in U.S. waters.