Trump administration weakens protectionsadministration weakens protections for threatened animal species
The Trump administration finalized a major regulatory change on Friday that removes key protections for threatened animal species, eliminating language requiring agencies to prevent damage to wildlife habitats during other federal actions.
This shift allows activities like logging and oil drilling to proceed near imperiled wildlife without the previous requirement to block them, marking a significant rollback of environmental safeguards under current leadership.
- The Endangered Species Act was passed by Congress in 1973 with overwhelming bipartisan support, making it one of the most enduring environmental laws in US history.
- Opportunities to log or drill for oil near threatened species habitats have increased significantly in previous Trump administrations, often cited as a way to boost domestic energy production.
- Habitat destruction is the primary driver of species extinction worldwide, affecting more than 80% of threatened wildlife populations globally.
