“God Squad” meeting to consider exemption from ESA for fossil fuel projects in Caribbean – Deadline

“God Squad” meeting to consider exemption from ESA for fossil fuel projects in Caribbean – Comment Deadline

           “As part of President Trump’s push to hand more favors to the oil and gas industry, the administration is preparing to convene the so-called “God Squad”, a rarely-convened group with the power to remove Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for the sake of economic interests. On March 31 at 9am EST, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum will convene the group to discuss providing these exemptions for offshore oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico.

           The stakes are enormous. The Gulf is home to over two dozen threatened or endangered species, including the Kemp’s ridley turtle and the Rice’s whale, which NOAA describes as “one of the rarest whales in the world.” Scientists estimate only 51 Rice’s whales remain, with oil and gas operations and spills being a major threat. Granting a blanket ESA exemption for offshore oil and gas operations in the Gulf would sentence critically endangered species like the Rice’s whale to extinction, while subjecting others to major harm from vessel strikes, seismic blasting, oil spills, and other industry operations.

          Broad ESA exemptions for the fossil fuel industry in the Gulf would also weaken or eliminate the use of basic environmental safeguards, including spill prevention, well-control rules, and voluntary vessel speed guidance that helps prevent lethal collisions with marine life. The Trump administration’s attacks on endangered species will likely not stop at the Gulf; if the God Squad grants this exemption, we can expect more to come.

Please use this toolkit to learn more and call on Members of Congress and Gulf State governors to stand up for species and oppose special ESA carveouts for Big Oil. “

The God Squad meets on March 31st. Write your Members of Congress today to urge them to stop the God Squad and save America’s whale!

Send a pre-fab letter for  congressmen/women

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/urgent-save-rices-whale-from-secretary-burgums-god-squad?link_id=6&can_id=d17382524c2afb3a324fa3226db787f3&source=email-urgent-save-rices-whale-from-secretary-burgums-god-squad&email_referrer=email_3157209&email_subject=urgent-save-rices-whale-from-secretary-burgums-god-squad-_&&

Above is a quote from various  Endangered Species Coalition e-mails

Send a  pre-fab letter to Sec Burgum:

https://act.defenders.org/page/95588/action/1?supporter.appealCode=3WDE2600IXXXX&utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=032026_GodSquadMeetingA2D&utm_content=032026+God+Squad+Meeting+A2D&ea.url.id=4741325&forwarded=true