Trump Signs Executive Order to Remove Endangered Species Protection for Grey Wolves

Donald Trump has signed an executive order to remove endangered species protection for the grey wolf and the Mexican wolf subspecies. The order could allow pastoral farmers to kill wolves to protect their livestock, stating that ranchers play a "vital role" in the food supply chain and American cultural heritage. Conservation groups have criticized the decision, arguing it could undermine long-term efforts to recover endangered wolf populations. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), there were 319 Mexican wolves in the wild in the US in 2025, an increase from four in 1998. There are approximately 18,000 grey wolves in the US, although they remain classified as endangered due to habitat destruction. An attempt to remove their federal protection in 2022 faced legal challenges, and some advocates plan to challenge the Department of the Interior if it acts on Trump's order. The executive order does not permit ranchers to immediately shoot wolves but gives Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to assess whether the grey and Mexican wolf populations have recovered sufficiently to be removed from the endangered species list. The order notes that US livestock herds are at a 75-year low, while demand for beef has increased by 10% over the past decade. Environmental groups argue that wolf attacks on livestock are rare and have minimal impact on ranchers' income. Greta Anderson, deputy director of the Western Watersheds Project, stated that the order serves to appease a small number of ranchers. The Wolf Conservation Center highlighted that ranchers can receive up to 100% compensation for livestock losses caused by wolves. Claire Musser, executive director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project, emphasized that the Mexican grey wolf is not fully recovered and that weakening federal protections could jeopardize recovery efforts. The executive order is part of the Trump administration's efforts to address high beef prices driven by drought and a parasite outbreak in US beef stocks. Ranchers have expressed frustration over Trump's decision to ease restrictions on beef imports, which has affected their profit margins. Historically, the US government conducted campaigns to exterminate wolves, leading to their near eradication.