Controversial 'God Squad' Exempts Gulf Oil Drilling from Endangered Species Rules
Critics argue the exemption exploits a 'self-made gas crisis' and could endanger the rare Rice's whale in the Gulf of Mexico.
The US government has granted a controversial exemption that allows oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico to bypass key Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections. The Endangered Species Committee, a panel known as the 'God Squad', voted to approve the exemption at the request of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
This marks the first time the committee has convened in over three decades, and critics argue the move could doom the rare Rice's whale and harm other vulnerable marine life in the region. Environmental advocates say the exemption exploits the White House's 'self-made gas crisis' and prioritizes fossil fuel interests over conservation efforts.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}The ESA exemption applies to oil and gas drilling operations in the Gulf, which is home to the critically endangered Rice's whale. This elusive species, numbering fewer than 100 individuals, is at risk of extinction due to threats like ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and habitat loss. Conservationists argue the new exemption could further jeopardize the whale's tenuous future.
