Trump convenes “God Squad” to override Endangered Species Act, up oil production

The Trump administration is poised to take unprecedented steps regarding endangered species protections, citing national security as a rationale. A seldom-used panel known as the 'God Squad' is scheduled to convene to deliberate on whether to bypass regulations set forth by the Endangered Species Act specifically for fossil fuel operations in the Gulf of Mexico. This meeting comes amid concerns for several endangered species, including sea turtles and a whale species with a dwindling population of just 51 individuals. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the session last week, though he provided little information about specific Gulf projects or the criteria that would warrant such an extraordinary measure. Historically, this panel has only overridden protections on two occasions in almost 50 years. In a twist, following a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity aimed at halting the meeting, the administration informed the court that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requested exemptions for all federal oil and gas activities in the Gulf, citing national security needs. A federal judge, however, declined to block the meeting. Brett Hartl, the Center for Biological Diversity's government affairs director, expressed disappointment at the court's decision, stating, 'It’s disappointing that the court didn’t immediately stop Hegseth’s reckless power grab, but this is just the first battle in a longer fight to protect the Gulf’s endangered whales and turtles.' This situation presents a unique challenge, as no previous administration has sought a national security exemption from endangered species protections. Currently, U.S. oil production is nearing record levels, with offshore companies in the Gulf producing approximately 1.9 million barrels of oil per day, all while adhering to existing endangered species protections that require minimizing impact on wildlife rather than halting operations altogether.