‘God Squad’ Waives Environmental Rules for Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico NYT | Top Stories By: Maxine Joselow 31 March 2026 at 22:41 The panel voted to override Endangered Species Act restrictions on oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico, home to critically endangered whales and other imperiled wildlife. © Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Save Our ParksA projection on the Interior Department building in Washington on Monday night.