Trump to revoke protections for endangered species in Gulf of Mexico

"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."

"Only about 51 Rice whales remain, and they and other wildlife are largely on the brink of extinction because of the 2010 Horizon Deepwater oil rig spill, which devastated the gulf when it leaked about 210m gallons."

The Trump administration is forming a 'God squad' to revoke protections for endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico, citing national security to expand oil and gas operations. This move could threaten numerous species, including Rice's whales and whooping cranes. The rarely invoked God squad provision allows the president to override protections if project benefits outweigh species survival. Critics question the justification, noting that oil companies have not requested the exemption, and suggest it is a political maneuver amid rising gas prices and poor polling for Trump.

Read at www.theguardian.com