A Recipe for Extinction: Can America’s Leading Wildlife Protections Endure Trump’s ‘God Squad’?

The United States has long been a global leader in conservation, largely due to the Endangered Species Act. However, recent efforts led by former President Donald Trump are casting a shadow over these protections. The Trump administration’s aggressive move to boost oil and gas drilling threatens to dismantle the cornerstones of wildlife conservation in the U.S., invoking a little-known but powerful committee dubbed the “God squad.”

The Impact of Legislative Changes on Endangered Species

Under Trump’s administration, multiple early actions were taken to open vast amounts of land and water for the fossil fuel industry. This includes reversing regulations that were implemented to strengthen the Endangered Species Act, a pivotal piece of legislation enacted in 1973.

These legislative changes urgently directed the Department of the Interior to reevaluate previously denied drilling leases, including those in environmentally sensitive areas like the Alaskan Arctic. This decision could potentially shrink wildlife refuges and national monuments that are designated as protected lands.

Key Players in the Legislative Overhaul

• Doug Burgum: The Interior Secretary leading the charge to unlock America’s energy potential.
• Donald Trump: Former U.S. President aiming for energy dominance at the expense of environmental rules.
• The ‘God Squad’: A powerful endangered species committee with the authority to override the Endangered Species Act.

Noah Greenwald from the Center for Biological Diversity asserts that current directives are “monumentally shortsighted,” predicting they will lead to an impoverished and hotter planet if fully implemented.

How the ‘God Squad’ Amplifies Concerns

One of Trump’s inaugural executive orders upon regaining office in January 2025 calls for the revival of the ‘God Squad’—a seldom-used committee with considerable power over species survival. The directive mandates quarterly meetings during a proclaimed national energy emergency, thus increasing the likelihood of legislative rollbacks.

The ‘God Squad’ is comprised of Doug Burgum, five other senior government officials, and a representative from an impacted state. Although its function to override the Endangered Species Act is limited by stringent conditions, its mere existence has fanned the flames of concern among environmentalist groups.

Precedents and Projections

The committee is no stranger to controversy. It convened last in 1992 to discuss the fate of the spotted owl, impacted by logging in the Pacific Northwest. While no species have been directly exterminated by the ‘God Squad,’ environmental expert Patrick Parenteau warns of an unprecedented shift: “This is about throwing things against the wall to see what sticks, all while detracting from ongoing endangered species regulations.” Even if the ‘God Squad’ doesn’t swing the axe, other legislative actions threaten species indirectly.

Broader Implications: The Case of the Grizzly Bear and Grey Wolves

Multiple states with Republican leadership, such as Montana and Wyoming, have unsuccessfully petitioned the federal government to remove protections for species like grizzly bears. Their frustrations find an ally in Trump, who has supported similar deregulations like stripping grey wolves of endangered status. According to Lauren Boebert, a Republican congresswoman, such protections unnecessarily encumber industries like agriculture.

Consequences of Legislative Inaction

The fear is that some species could disappear unnoticed due to lack of federal focus and funding. Recovery programs for species are woefully underfunded, and private landowners, who host critical habitats, are unlikely to be incentivized. “Without the Endangered Species Act, many species would face extinction,” confirms Parenteau. Yet, a lack of proactive implementation creates a perilous situation where extinction becomes a reality.

A final word to heed the warnings of experts: weakening landscape-scale protections offers a bleak forecast—one where the recipe for extinction is fulfilled unless firm actions are taken to preserve this rich biodiversity.

Explore more on these topics:

• Environment
• The Age of Extinction
• Donald Trump
• Conservation
• Endangered Species
• Biodiversity
• Fossil Fuels
• Wildlife

With each passing decision, the urgency to safeguard these treasured species increases, posing vital questions about the future we are willing to shape for generations yet to come.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/13/endangered-extinction-us-nature-protections-survive-trump-god-squad-aoe