Senate Democrats on Tuesday launched an inquiry into the Trump administration’s revival of the “God Squad,” accusing the White House of misusing the process to dole out political favors to President Donald Trump’s campaign supporters in the oil and gas sector.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, led fellow Democrats in demanding Cabinet officials detail not only the decision to convene the Endangered Species Committee — nicknamed the “God Squad” for its potential to condemn a species to extinction — but minute details about its March 31 meeting. That includes materials that “third parties” sent to cabinet officials.
In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Rhode Island lawmaker and 25 other Democrats suggested that exempting Gulf of Mexico drilling from Endangered Species Act requirements was little more than reciprocation to generous campaign supporters.
Aspects of the decision “appear to be yet another payback for the fossil fuel industry’s support of President Trump’s campaign,” the senators wrote.
