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Ars Technica Mar 30, 2026 at 13:30 Big Tech

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

Administration wants to exempt all federally regulated offshore oil from protections.

By Kiley Price, Inside Climate News Original source
Trump convenes "God Squad" to override Endangered Species Act, up oil production

The Trump administration is turning to the nuclear option on endangered-species protections in the name of national security. A rarely tapped panel nicknamed the “God Squad” will meet Tuesday to discuss whether overriding Endangered Species Act regulations for all federally regulated fossil fuel operations in the Gulf of Mexico is more important than preventing the extinction of several imperiled species. That includes sea turtles and a whale species down to its last 51 individuals. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the upcoming Endangered Species Committee meeting last week, with no details on specific projects in the Gulf or the basis for what would constitute an extraordinary action. Only twice in the panel’s nearly half-century has it ever lifted restrictions.Read full article Comments

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