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Trump Cuts Habitat Protections for Endangered Species
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The Trump administration finalized a rule narrowing the definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act, removing protections against habitat destruction for imperiled animals.
- Previously, "harm" included significant habitat modification that impaired an animal's ability to eat, shelter, or breed, a definition upheld by the Supreme Court in 1995.
- The new rule allows activities such as farming, drilling, mining, and real estate development to proceed even if they destroy endangered species' habitats.
- Environmentalists warn this change could severely threaten vulnerable species already facing habitat loss, and legal challenges are planned by groups like Earthjustice.
- Critics argue the rule contradicts both the Endangered Species Act's language and prior Supreme Court rulings, marking the most significant rollback of wildlife protections in decades.
