The Trump administration announced on Nov. 19 that it plans to roll back key parts of the Endangered Species Act, the landmark 1973 law credited with saving hundreds of species. The proposal would revive changes from Trump’s first term that were later overturned in court.
A central change targets the “blanket rule,” which automatically grants threatened species the same protections as endangered ones. Instead, officials would create separate rules for each species. Environmentalists say this slower, case-by-case process could delay urgently needed protections for wildlife such as the monarch butterfly, the Florida manatee, and the spotted owl.
Supporters of the announcement, including some Republicans and industry groups, argue the law has limited economic growth and burdened landowners. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the revisions would reduce confusion while keeping decisions rooted in “sound science.”
But conservation groups warn the changes could allow activities such as logging to proceed even when habitats are fragile. They are especially concerned about another proposal that would require officials to consider economic impacts when identifying critical habitat, a step they say undermines the law’s purpose.
As extinctions rise worldwide, critics fear slower protections could push more species closer to vanishing.