CM, that isn't how the god squad works or what it decides on. Congress doesn't convene the god squad and decide to let species go instinct.

"The God Squad has the authority to exempt an agency action from the requirements of section 7(a)(2) of the ESA if the God Squad makes certain determinations. The God Squad is composed of seven members: the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of the Army, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Secretary of the Interior, Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and one individual from the affected State, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior and appointed by the President. The God Squad process is initiated when a Federal agency, a Governor of the State in which an agency action will occur, or in certain circumstances, a permit or license applicant, submits an application to the Secretary of Commerce or Secretary of the Interior (the recipient of the application depends upon which species is being impacted). In order for the exemption to be granted, five out of the seven members of the God Squad must vote in favor of the exemption."

Some entity would have to request that a certain action be exempt from ESA constraints for ESA species. ....but other restrictions would remain. What action for exemption would be supported by the public, governors, tribes to not apply to those precious SRKWs? Someone gets a freebie while others take the burden? It sure won't be fisheries that get break if it's understood that the fishery has an effect on abundance or habitat.

The god squad has made 3 decisions since the ESA was amended in 1978. They denied exemption for the snail darter and Tellico Dam. They okayed the exemption for whooping cranes and Grayrocks Dam and the northern spotted owl and pNW national forest lands (exemption later overturned by 9th Circuit judge).