Donald Trump is dispatching a so-called “God squad” of top officials to revoke protections for endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico, purportedly to protect national security by expanding oil and gas industry operations. If successful, the administration may kill off dozens of protected species – from Rice’s whales and whooping cranes to sea turtles. The rarely used “God squad” provision in the Endangered Species Act (ESA) allows a president to convene a committee of agency heads empowered to effectively veto protections for species on the brink of extinction. The Trump administration is attempting to justify the ESA exemption for “reasons of national security”, marking the first time a security claim has been made. The administration could very easily follow the protocol and again file for an exemption within a few days, Hartl said.

Source: The Guardian March 30, 2026 15:48 UTC