Trump Administration Moves to Weaken Endangered Species

The Trump administration is once again attacking environmental protections by proposing to roll back Biden-era safeguards for endangered species. The Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service, along with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, announced a plan aimed at reinstating rules from Trump’s first term that significantly weakened protections for species at risk from human activity and climate change.

This new proposal allows economic considerations to take precedence when determining which endangered species should be granted protection, effectively prioritizing corporate interests over environmental needs. Moreover, it seeks to eliminate the “blanket rule” that extended protections to species identified as threatened, a change likely to have dire consequences for vulnerable wildlife.

Industry groups, who have argued that existing environmental regulations hinder major development projects, are supporting Trump’s reckless initiative. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum framed this rollback as restoring the Endangered Species Act to its “original intent,” dismissing the catastrophic impacts it could have on the habitat of numerous species.

Environmental organizations have condemned the proposal, warning that it could severely endanger the very species it is meant to protect. According to Defenders of Wildlife’s senior attorney, Jane Davenport, this measure is tantamount to prioritizing profit over preservation, putting animals like the Florida manatee at risk of further decline.

Critics emphasize that public sentiment strongly favors environmental conservation, arguing that Trump’s actions disregard widespread support for protecting biodiversity. Earthjustice attorney Kristen Boyles stated that the administration’s attempts to cater to billionaire interests do not reflect the values of most Americans who prioritize safeguarding the natural world.