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Trump administration revokes 50-year-old endangered species habitat protections
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Environment & Climate

Trump administration revokes 50-year-old endangered species habitat protections

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Trump administration revoked a 50-year-old rule protecting endangered species' habitats from commercial activities like logging and mining.
  • The administration argued the rule was outdated and hindered legitimate land use, aiming to streamline project approvals.
  • Environmentalists criticized the move, vowing legal action and stating the rule lacks scientific, legal, and public backing.

The Trump administration on Friday dismantled a key 50-year-old protection for endangered species, opening their habitats to commercial exploitation such as logging and mining. This move revokes a fundamental part of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that shielded wildlife from habitat destruction.

The new regulation eliminates the definition of "harm," which previously included habitat modification or degradation that killed or injured wildlife by significantly altering essential behaviors like breeding, feeding, or sheltering. The administration justified the repeal by claiming the rule was obsolete and intended to expedite project approvals. "For years, federal agencies have abused the ESA to hinder the legitimate use of land and harm American families and businesses," stated Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

For years, federal agencies have abused the ESA to hinder the legitimate use of land and harm American families and businesses.

— Doug BurgumThe Interior Secretary justified the measure, claiming the rule was obsolete and aimed to expedite project approvals.

Environmental groups strongly condemned the decision, promising a legal challenge. Kristen Boyles, an attorney with Earthjustice, declared, "Let it be clear: the Trump administration's rule lacks all backing, whether scientific, legal, or public. We will see the Trump administration in court." Earthjustice highlighted that a crucial aspect of the ESA's success has been its prohibition on destroying habitats like forests, beaches, rivers, or wetlands essential for species survival. They also noted the Supreme Court affirmed in 1995 that the definition of "harm" encompassed habitat destruction.

Earthjustice further warned that the White House had previously attempted to undermine the ESA by granting the oil industry a complete exemption in the Gulf of Mexico for exploitation, posing a threat to numerous marine species, including whales and sea turtles.

Let it be clear: the Trump administration's rule lacks all backing, whether scientific, legal, or public. We will see the Trump administration in court.

— Kristen BoylesAn attorney for Earthjustice criticized the move and vowed legal action.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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