Endangered Species Rollback
The Trump administration is easing habitat protections for endangered species.
July 10, 2026 · Updated Jul 10, 9:06pm ET
CNNTrump administration opens endangered species’ habitats to development, reversing 50 years of environmental law
ABC NewsTrump administration rolls back a key protection for imperiled wildlife
Washington TimesTrump rolls back protections for habitats of endangered species
The Guardian‘Death sentence’: Trump’s EPA to open habitats of endangered species to logging and mining
FOX NewsTrump admin scraps ‘weaponized’ wildlife rule that became 'burden' on American families and businesses: Burgum
MEDIAiteTrump Guts the Endangered Species Act to Clear Path for Drilling and Development
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Left · 3
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Pano rates the coverage Balanced.
What happened
The InteriorDepartment of the InteriorU.S. federal executive department and Commerce departments finalized a rule Friday narrowing how federal agencies interpret “harm” under the Endangered Species Act, removing regulatory language that since 1981 covered habitat modification that kills or injures protected wildlife. The change limits ESA “take” enforcement tied to land and water use in occupied habitat, affecting reviews of drilling, mining, logging, farming, infrastructure and real estate projects. Officials said the prior standard had been used to block development and private land use; environmental groups said the rule weakens habitat protections for listed species.
