Trump administration rolls back key protections for imperiled wildlife: Here’s what changed

The Trump administration reportedly finalized a rule on Friday that officially revoked a key regulation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by revising the legal definition of “harm” to wildlife. The rule seeks to eliminate a key protection for imperiled wildlife against oil drilling, logging and other activities.

The government defined harm broadly to include the degradation of habitats with endangered animals for decades. 

This significant change now would allow oil and gas drilling, mining and other key developments on important habitats as long as the animals themselves are not killed or injured.

According to administrative officials, the changes restore the law to its initial intention after a 2024 Supreme Court decision that limited the authority of federal agencies to interpret environmental legislation statuses passed by Congress. 

Officials have coherently structured past federal actions as a regulatory encroachment to property rights.

Conservationists warned the controversial move could cause some species to go extinct by opening the door to habitat destruction. Conversely, industry representatives and their Republican allies have long argued the landmark 1973 environmental law is applied with an excessive scope to the detriment of economic growth.

In this connection, Aaron Weiss, the executive director of the Center for Western Priorities said: “This is one of the most horrific attempts to harm wildlife in American history and a gift to the oil barons and foreign mining companies.”

Furthermore, the Endangered Species Act is credited with bringing back iconic animals such as the bold eagle, American alligator and the California condor from the verge of extinction.