Trump Administration Seeks to Remove Protections for the Lesser Prairie Chicken

The Trump administration has initiated steps to revoke federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken, a colorful bird native to southern and central grasslands. This action, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, challenges a previous decision made during the Biden administration that classified the species as endangered. The lesser prairie chicken, once numbering in the hundreds of thousands, now faces a drastic population decline to roughly 30,000, primarily due to habitat loss driven by agricultural and energy development.

In the court documents, the administration contends that the Fish and Wildlife Service misjudged the bird's endangered status and anticipates a reassessment by November 30, 2026. During this period, the lesser prairie chicken will lack the protections previously afforded under the Endangered Species Act. However, the officials assert that various conservation programs exist that will continue to benefit the species despite the absence of federal protections. This move reflects a broader trend within the administration towards easing environmental regulations to promote development aligned with its "drill, baby, drill" policy.