The Trump administration is invoking the ‘God Squad,’ a rarely used panel, to bypass endangered species protections for offshore oil operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced this 'nuclear option' for fossil fuel activities, with no specifics on projects or criteria for overriding regulations.

Following legal challenges from environmental groups, a federal judge declined to block the meeting. The Center for Biological Diversity argues it’s a ‘reckless power grab,’ citing endangered sea turtles and whales, numbering just 51 individuals, as at risk.

This unprecedented move challenges the balance between energy production and conservation. Despite record-high oil production, companies in Gulf federal waters still operate under restrictions aimed at minimising environmental impact rather than outright bans or severe limitations.

The situation reflects a complex interplay of economic interests and ecological concerns, especially as no other administration has sought such an exemption from endangered species protections before.