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Defenders Slams Unlawful God Squad Vote to Strip Endangered Species Act Protection from Wildlife in the Gulf
Defenders of Wildlife strongly opposes today’s vote by the Endangered Species Committee, or God Squad, to condemn species to extinction in the name of a fictitious “national security emergency.”
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Sec. of Defense Invokes False “National Security” Rationale to Eviscerate Endangered Species Act Protections for Wildlife in the Gulf
In a litigation filing yesterday in federal district court, the Trump administration publicly admitted for the first time that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum scheduled a snap meeting of the Endangered Species Committee (the “God Squad”) for March 31 at the request of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
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Trump Administration Calls on “God Squad” to Weaken Endangered Species Act Protections
The Trump administration today announced its intent to convene the Endangered Species Committee — colloquially known as the “God Squad”— on March 31, 2026, to consider an exemption under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for oil and gas-related activities in the Gulf of Mexico.
More Rice's Whale Press Releases
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Defenders Releases 2024 Conservation Report Card for 118th Congress
Defenders of Wildlife today released its 2024 Conservation Report Card for the 118th Congress assessing the commitment of U.S. senators and representatives to wildlife and
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Defenders Statement on BOEM Rescission of Rice's Whale Recommendations
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has rescinded its Notice to Lessees and Operators, "Expanded Rice's Whale Protection Efforts During Reinitiated Consultation with NMFS," which
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Defenders Statement on Biden Protections for U.S. Coasts from Offshore Drilling
WASHINGTON, DC — President Joe Biden today took action to protect over 625 million acres of U.S. ocean waters from offshore oil and gas drilling
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Defenders Condemns Bill Riders Threatening Endangered Whales
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee released its appropriations bill for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The
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Defenders Responds to ‘Graves Mistake’ in Rice’s Whale Protection
The House Natural Resources Committee late yesterday approved H.R. 6008, a bill by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), that threatens the critically endangered Rice’s whale with
jcovey@defenders.org
