On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the Endangered Species Committee (Committee) – colloquially known as the God Squad – met in Washington, DC at the request of the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. The Committee is made up of high-ranking federal government officials, chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, that can be convened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to grant exemptions to requirements of the ESA in certain limited circumstances. The March 31, 2026 meeting of the Committee, in which it unanimously granted an exemption for oil and gas exploration, development and production in the Gulf of America due to national security concerns, marks the first time in 30 years that the Committee has been convened. …
Nossaman’s Endangered Species Law & Policy blog focuses on news, events, and policies affecting endangered species issues in California and throughout the United States. Topics include listing and critical habitat decisions, conservation and recovery planning, inter-agency consultation, and related developments in law, policy, and science. We also inform readers about regulatory and legislative developments, as well as key court decisions.
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