Exceptions Granted By The "God Squad"

Proposed federal agency actions that have been determined to cause "jeopardy" to any listed species may receive an exemption from the ESA if five members of the federal "Endangered Species Committee," also known as the "God Squad," determine that the action is of regional or national significance, that the benefits of the action clearly outweigh the benefits of conserving the species and that there are no reasonable and prudent alternatives to the action.

The God Squad is comprised of seven members: the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Interior, the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and one individual from the affected state. The God Squad has been convened only a handful of times.