The term “God Squad” has been making worldwide headlines lately after this federal committee unilaterally eliminated key Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for marine life in the Gulf of Mexico – all to clear the way for offshore oil and gas drilling.
To fully understand what this decision means, and its impact to the future of marine life, we need to take a deep dive into exactly what is the God Squad.
Small Fish, Big Implications
No one could have imagined back in 1973 when the ESA was made a law that the discovery of a tiny fish would cause such an uproar that still echoes throughout environmental issues today. That fish? The snail darter. The controversy? Its only known habitat at the time was right in the middle of the construction zone for the Tellico Dam in Tennessee. Once the fish was listed under the ESA in 1975, it stopped the dam project in its tracks, igniting a fierce debate over how far this new law could go.
Supporters of the dam argued it would bring economic relief to the area. Opponents said it would destroy the ecosystem. The dispute ended up at the Supreme Court, which in 1978 ruled in favor of the snail darter, meaning the construction could not resume. This decision upset some members of Congress who then introduced an amendment to the ESA to create the Endangered Species Committee (nicknamed the “God Squad”) that could decide to override the law on economic grounds. To Congress’ dismay, the Endangered Species Committee also voted in favor of the snail darter, finding no justification to wipe out a species. Congress then came back and exempted the Tellico dam from the ESA. The dam was built.
Despite the legal battle, biologists and the company building the dam went to great efforts to ensure the survival of the snail darter by relocating them to other rivers.
The snail darter survived the construction, but so did the Endangered Species Committee.
Who Makes Up the God Squad
The Endangered Species Committee convenes to consider applications for exemption and is made up of:
- Secretary of the Interior, Chair of the Committee
- Secretary of Agriculture
- Secretary of the Army
- Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors
- Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator
- One individual from each affected State
What Power Do They Have?
he Endangered Species Committee has only met four times in the nearly 50 years since its establishment. The Committee is only designed to be convened when someone files an application to be exempt from provisions of the ESA.
However, an executive order from the Trump administration has directed the Committee to meet quarterly to “identify obstacles to domestic energy infrastructure specifically deriving from implementation of the ESA or the Marine Mammal Protection Act,” — regardless of any submitted applications for exemption.
While public input is normally (and legally obligated to be) included in an exemption process, the most recent committee meeting ignored these normal processes, improperly invoking a national security provision. This was added to the law when the Committee was created in 1978 and, until earlier this year, had never been used. This eliminated any public input on the decision.
If the committee meets quarterly, what issues they will discuss, and how far their power can go, remains a mystery.
Why This Matters
While the snail darter case showed that endangered species can adapt to new habitats, it’s not that simple. Especially when it comes to ocean life. Most marine animals are specifically adapted to their environment — including water temperatures, salinity levels, and food options. Simply put, relocation for a species is not a viable or justifiable option. Every organism in the ocean is part of an intricate ecosystem and food web. You cannot remove one from the system without harming the rest. Which is exactly one of the many reasons why lawmakers created the ESA in the first place. The ESA has helped keep over 1,600 species of plants and animals from going extinct. Since 1973, this landmark law has been a fundamental protection for our natural world. If we begin to dismantle these bedrock laws, there’s no telling what the consequences will be.
What You Can Do
The Endangered Species Act is the one safety net for wildlife that’s on the brink of extinction. Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever. Extinction is forever. Join Oceana in telling Congress that you support the ESA.
