Trump’s “God Squad” Threatens to Wipe Out Endangered Species Under Cover of Executive Order

President Trump wasted no time advancing an aggressive agenda to open public lands and waters to extractive industries, even if it means driving threatened species to extinction. Within days of taking office, he issued an executive order that resurrected a rarely used provision of the Endangered Species Act. This provision empowers a presidentially appointed committee—derisively known as the “God Squad”—to approve projects that would otherwise be blocked due to their devastating impact on imperiled wildlife.

Earthjustice, a leading environmental legal organization, calls this committee more accurately the “Extinction Committee” because of its power to rubber-stamp decisions that prioritize corporate interests over the survival of entire species. Instead of protecting biodiversity, Trump’s “God Squad” serves as a tool for special interests to bulldoze environmental safeguards with impunity.

This isn’t just about one committee or one law. It’s part of a broader pattern of authoritarian overreach by the Trump administration, which routinely sidelines Congress and expert agencies to fast-track policies that erode democratic norms and civil rights—including environmental protections that belong to all Americans.

The stakes could not be higher. Species already teetering on the brink could be wiped out forever if this committee’s unchecked authority goes unchallenged. Earthjustice urges Congress to act swiftly to rein in the “Extinction Committee” and prevent it from becoming a death sentence for endangered wildlife.

Public pressure matters. When constituents speak up, elected officials are forced to reckon with the values and communities they represent—not just the lobbyists lining their pockets. Your voice can help block this dangerous power grab and protect the natural world for future generations.

This fight is far from over. Earthjustice is mobilizing legal challenges and public campaigns to hold the Trump administration accountable. But they need your help to flood Congress with messages demanding an end to this reckless assault on endangered species.

If you care about democracy, accountability, and the planet’s fragile ecosystems, now is the time to act. Stand with Earthjustice and say no to Trump’s “God Squad” extinction agenda. Your message will be part of the official public record, strengthening the legal case against this administration’s environmental rollbacks.

The future of endangered species—and the integrity of our government—depends on it.