Cantwell Statement on “God Squad” Allowing Oil Companies to Ignore Protections for Endangered Species in Gulf of Mexico

EDMONDS, WA– Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released this statement regarding the decision of the Trump administration’s Endangered Species Committee, commonly known as “The God Squad,” to exempt Gulf of Mexico oil and gas drilling from laws that protect endangered animal species:
“Gulf Coast communities have already paid the price for offshore drilling with polluted waters, damaged fisheries, and costly cleanups, and this decision risks repeating that history. By sidelining protections for species like the critically endangered Rice's whale, manatees, and sea turtles, the administration is putting coastal economies and families on the hook for the consequences of increased oil and gas activity.”