The Trump administration announced a proposal on Wednesday to significantly amend regulations governing the protection of endangered species and their critical habitats. The move, spearheaded by the Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), would restore rules that were previously in place during the first Trump administration.
The proposed changes target safeguards that were implemented during the Biden administration, which aimed to protect plants and animals threatened by human development and the impacts of a warming planet.
A central component of the proposal is the reinstatement of rules that would strip key protections for species and their habitats.
Additionally, the FWS and NMFS are seeking to eliminate the so-called “blanket rule.” This rule currently extends the same level of protection afforded to “endangered” species to those listed as “threatened” with extinction.
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“This administration is restoring the Endangered Species Act to its original intent, protecting species through clear, consistent, and lawful standards that also respect the livelihoods of Americans who depend on our land and resources,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement.
The proposal has drawn sharp reactions from different sectors.
Industry groups have welcomed the news, viewing it as a necessary step to ease what they describe as overly restrictive environmental regulations. For years, these groups, including those representing the energy, mining, and development sectors, have argued that existing laws have created significant hurdles for major projects.
Conversely, environmental groups have strongly condemned the proposed rollback. They argue that removing these safeguards could have devastating consequences for vulnerable and threatened species, accelerating declines and hindering conservation efforts across the nation.
“The Endangered Species Act is one of the most successful, science-based conservation laws ever passed,” said Susan Holmes, Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition. “But some members of Congress are trying to dismantle it piece by piece to serve polluting industries and political donors — and the cost will be measured in extinctions.”
“These attacks don’t just target wildlife — they target the very foundation of science-based conservation,” said Holmes. “If these laws are gutted, we’ll lose not only species, but the ecosystems and economies that depend on them.”
The administration stated the proposed changes are intended to create a more efficient and less burdensome regulatory framework while still maintaining a commitment to conservation. The public will have an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed rules before they can be finalized.
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