Newsroom

WASHINGTON, D.C.

March 31, 2026

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.”

Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge at sunset

Washington, D.C.

March 27, 2026

Court Victory for Florida Wetlands Protection

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled today that permits to build in wetlands should stay in the hands of

Washington, D.C.

March 26, 2026

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.

Press Releases

January 12, 2016

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bans import of salamander species in the face of deadly disease

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: January 12, 2016 Contacts: Haley McKey, 202-772-0247, hmckey@defenders.org Melanie Gade, 202-772-0288, mgade@defenders.org U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bans import of salamander

Victor, ID

January 11, 2016

Northern Rockies Fishers One Step Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection

In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Northern Rockies fisher, a rare and vanishing species, may warrant federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.

January 7, 2016