The Endangered Species Committee known as the “God Squad” has unanimously voted to exempt Gulf of Mexico oil and gas operations from endangered species protections. The committee met for the first time in 30 years after the exemption was framed as a national security issue by Pete Hegseth. Hegseth said that litigation tied to endangered species was obstructing the Gulf's energy production, which supplies 15% of U.S. domestic energy and a crucial supply for the military. The exemption applies to all endangered species in the Gulf, including sea turtles, Gulf sturgeon, and the critically endangered Rice’s whale — a species with an estimated just 51 individuals left, heavily impacted by the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010. Because of the vote, proposed protections for the whale will not move forward. The decision also raises questions about ongoing lawsuits and the future of endangered species protections in the Gulf Reporting by Margaret Kates Read more on AL.com #news #endangeredsp...