1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Congress must investigate the Trump administration's illegal convening of the Endangered Species Committee—the so-called God Squad—to weaken environmental laws protecting Rice's whales so oil companies can expand drilling in the Gulf. The God Squad can only meet within 90 days of a biological opinion that finds jeopardy AND determines there are no reasonable alternatives. The May 2025 biological opinion includes an alternative that avoids likely jeopardy. NOAA found that implementing a vessel strike avoidance technology plan would prevent jeopardy to the Rice's whale. An alternative exists, which means this convening violates the Endangered Species Act. Only 51 Rice's whales remain, making them one of the world's most endangered baleen whales. NOAA's analysis shows the species cannot withstand even a single human-caused death per year. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill killed 17% of the population, and they still haven't recovered 14 years later. Congress needs to step up to reinforce the Endangered Species Act and other laws it has passed and stop these protections from being dismantled piece by piece so oil companies can reap greater profits. Investigate this illegal action, hold Secretary Burgum and others accountable for not following the law, and don't allow this administration to roll back environmental protections!