Trump Administration Reinstates Controversial Changes to Endangered Species Protections

Wed Nov 19 2025 23:49:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Trump administration has proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act that environmentalists warn could delay protections for species at risk of extinction, while supporters claim it restores the law's original intent.

In a controversial move, the Trump administration on Wednesday proposed to roll back certain protections under the Endangered Species Act, specifically eliminating the automatic protections for newly classified threatened species. Critics argue this could hinder conservation efforts, potentially delaying vital protections for animals like the monarch butterfly and Florida manatee. Proponents claim the changes are necessary to balance economic interests with environmental conservation.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Trump administration has moved to reinstate regulatory changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that would potentially delay protections for newly threatened species. These revisions were initially blocked under the Biden administration.

Key among the proposed changes is the elimination of a rule from the Fish and Wildlife Service that would automatically protect animals and plants newly classified as threatened. Instead, government agencies would need to develop specific rules for each species, a process that critics argue could take years.

Environmental groups express deep concern that this change will hinder efforts to protect vulnerable species, such as the monarch butterfly, Florida manatee, California spotted owl, and North American wolverine. Stephanie Kurose of the Center for Biological Diversity remarked, “We would have to wait until these poor animals are almost extinct before we can start protecting them. That’s absurd and heartbreaking.”

Amid ongoing habitat loss and increasing extinction rates globally, environmental advocates fear this rollback coincides with heightened threats to wildlife. Previous proposals during Trump’s second term also sought to redefine “harm” under the ESA to facilitate economic activities, including logging in national forests.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the administration's actions, claiming they aim to restore the ESA’s original intent while considering the economic needs of land users. He stated, “These revisions end years of legal confusion and regulatory overreach...” Burgum indicated the need to evaluate economic impacts when designating critical habitats.

The changes come in light of persistent calls from Republicans and various industry stakeholders who argue that the existing framework of the ESA stifles growth and unnecessarily complicates recovery efforts. Critics, however, warn that such alterations could diminish the efficacy of conservation measures, ultimately jeopardizing countless species on the brink of extinction.