Trump administration weakens habitat protections for endangered species
The rule could expand drilling, mining and development on critical habitat while leaving direct injury or killing of endangered animals illegal.
- On Friday, the Trump administration finalized a rule narrowing the definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act, removing regulatory protections that prevented damage to wildlife habitats.
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the change, claiming federal agencies for years "abused the ESA to obstruct lawful land use and burden American families and businesses."
- Attorneys general from 16 states, including Arizona, California, Illinois and New York, condemned the rationale as "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and contrary to law."
- Kristen Boyles, an attorney for Earthjustice, vowed to challenge the rule in court, stating there is "no scientific support, no legal support, no public support" for the change.
- Wildlife experts warn the policy could put threatened animals on a path to extinction, with Tara Zuardo of the Center for Biological Diversity calling habitat destruction the "number one threat to endangered species.
185 Articles
185 Articles
Mourn the Obliteration of Endangered Species with a Tropical Jungle Bird Cocktail
Sunday Cocktail Corner is a series dedicated to finding just the right libation for the situation. I could hardly blame you if, among some of the week’s other stupid headlines, such as Donald Trump being forced to leave his irresponsibly dangerous new Air Force One behind in Turkey, or Trump deciding not to sign a piece of legislation with close to 90% public approval, you had missed that the Trump administration more or less declared war on the…
The deregulation of the president in favour of the oil companies goes to hit the protected zones and to destroy the habitat of the endangered specia
Hanford Sentinel
Trump slashes wildlife protections, putting endangered California animals at risk
The Trump administration finalized a rollback of the Endangered Species Act on Friday, paving the way for drilling, mining and other human development across protected wildlife habitats. The move redefines "harm" under the Endangered Species Act, the landmark conservation law…
Trump Admin Says It Returned Endangered Species Act to Original Intent by Changing ‘Harm’ Definition
In this Just The News article, Misty Severi reports that the Trump administration has redefined the term “harm” under the Endangered Species Act to restore its original congressional intent and end weaponization against energy production, infrastructure, and private land use. Interior and Commerce Departments rescinded the broad regulatory definition of “harm” that included habitat modifications,...
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