Here’s a glimpse of the Trump administration’s recent attacks on the ESA and all the lives the law protects:
Removing protections for threatened species: Some of our most beloved species—from southern sea otters to West Indian manatees and grizzly bears—are considered “threatened” under the ESA. The ESA explicitly prohibits killing or harming animals considered “endangered,” but USFWS generally extends these protections to threatened species as well. USFWS is proposing to remove these protections, a change that would allow species that are listed as threatened in the future to be harmed or outright killed by default.
Making it harder to list species in need: The Trump administration is proposing revisions that could make it more difficult to list imperiled species.
Reducing habitat conservation and hampering cross-government collaboration: The proposals will hurt wildlife by reducing the amount of critical habitat protected under the ESA as well as making it harder for government agencies to work together on conservation efforts
