The U.S. Interior Department canceled a rule, previously intended to protect species threatened with extinction. This decision, made by President Donald Trump’s administration, represents another move in altering the Endangered Species Act to cater to industry demands.
Individualized Protection Plans
Instead of automatic protections, species will now need specialized plans after joining the threatened list. This new method involves a lengthy process that enables companies to request exemptions for activities like oil drilling and mining in these habitats.
Critics argue this change makes it harder to save species like monarch butterflies and alligator snapping turtles that are in danger but still awaiting federal protection.
Economic Impact Consideration
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that the Act has been a barrier to new projects, raising costs and affecting national competitiveness. He emphasized that success should be measured by species recovery and removal from the list rather than adding more names.
The policy now requires officials to consider economic impacts when determining if a habitat is critical, a move critics say will favor corporate interests and allow development in essential areas.
Noah Greenwald from the Center for Biological Diversity highlighted that exempting industries causing habitat destruction removes essential protection barriers.
Policy Changes and Legal Challenges
Similar changes were made during Trump’s first term, reversed under President Biden, and now reenacted. Two organizations, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Property and Environment Research Center, legally challenged Biden’s reinstatement of previous protections in 2024.
Jonathan Wood from the Montana-based research center stated the updated strategies provide better incentives for conservation efforts.
Species Listing and Exemptions
Throughout Trump’s second term, no species have been added to the endangered list, compared to more than 20 in his first term and 60 in Biden’s presidency.
Current proposals to classify 30 species as threatened include California spotted owls, various snakes, fish, clams, and insects.
Further Policy Revisions
The speed and extent of policy revisions have increased during Trump’s second term. This March, oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico received exemptions, following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments on lawsuits hindering energy supplies amid U.S. conflicts.
Last week, the definition of “harm” was narrowed, permitting development on wildlife habitats unless immediate animal harm occurs.
Amendments this week also reduced critical habitat in the U.S. Rockies for Canada lynx. Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to transfer more management authority of grizzly bears to states like Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
The Endangered Species Act has been vital in restoring species such as the bald eagle and American alligator. Yet, Burgum notes that 97% of protected species remain on the list, an issue for Republican lawmakers pushing for quicker delisting following recovery.