A committee of federal officials voted this week to exempt oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from laws meant to protect species like the vulnerable Rice’s whale from extinction.

The group, known as the "God Squad" because of their control over the fate of species and led by Interior Secretary Doug Bergum, met for the first time in 30 years, according to the Washington Post. The decision marks the first time the federal government has sought a national security exemption to the Endangered Species Act since the law was passed in 1973.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said decision was about “our ability to power our military and protect our nation,” claiming that lawsuits over endangered species in the Gulf could block oil and gas production.

However, the Endangered Species Act has never been used to stop oil drilling in the Gulf, and offshore production in the area reached near-record levels last year, according to E&E News.