The Trump administration finalized a rule narrowing the definition of harm under the Endangered Species Act, removing protections against habitat destruction from activities like logging, oil drilling, and miningso long as species arent directly killed or injured. Environmentalists warn this could accelerate extinction risks by enabling widespread habitat loss, while administration officials claim it restores the laws original intent and protects private property rights. The change, proposed in April 2025 and upheld despite opposition, is part of broader efforts to roll back wildlife protections, echoing similar moves from Trumps first term that were later reversed under Biden.
Original Article Source Link:
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/11/nx-s1-5890025/trump-administration-imperiled-wildlife