Environmentalists decry Trump admin's changing of 'harm' in Endangered Species Act

Key Points:

• The Trump administration rescinded the definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), removing protections against significant habitat modification that could injure or kill endangered wildlife.
• Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity, have filed lawsuits, arguing the change undermines decades of legal precedent and threatens species survival by allowing habitat destruction.
• The administration claims the revision restores the ESA to its original intent, reduces regulatory burdens, and supports economic growth by limiting federal overreach on land use and permitting.
• Critics warn the rule ignores scientific evidence and weakens habitat protections, potentially endangering species like the bald eagle and humpback whale, while also coinciding with efforts to reduce other public land protections.
• The new rule will take effect on September 14, prompting further legal challenges from environmental nonprofits aiming to preserve critical habitats for endangered species.