Twenty US States and DC Sue Trump Administration Over Endangered Species Protections

A coalition of attorneys general from 20 states and Washington, DC, has filed lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s administration, alleging that it has unlawfully weakened protections for endangered species. The lawsuits were filed on Wednesday, following the announcement of final rules by the Department of Interior and Department of Commerce that could facilitate development in sensitive habitats home to endangered species. Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown stated, "The Trump administration is trying to undermine the law, the will of Congress and the will of the people who overwhelmingly support protections for endangered species." One lawsuit claims that the administration has unlawfully narrowed the definition of "harm" in the 1973 Endangered Species Act, which has traditionally included threats to species' habitats. The states argue that the new rule represents a significant reversal, allowing activities like mining and oil drilling in sensitive areas as long as they are not aimed directly at specific animals. Additionally, the second lawsuit challenges two new rules: one that removes broad protections for newly threatened species unless the US Fish and Wildlife Service creates specific regulations, and another that requires the government to consider private companies' objections before designating areas as critical habitats. The lawsuits contend that these changes reduce the protections originally intended by Congress. The Endangered Species Act has been credited with helping to restore populations of various species, including condors, grizzly bears, and humpback whales. Critics of the Trump administration's regulatory changes express concerns that these actions could lead to irreversible harm to endangered species. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated, "Caring for our wildlife and our environment is part of caring for our future." In contrast, the Trump administration has defended its actions, claiming that the lawsuits aim to protect regulatory overreach and asserting that federal agencies should implement the Endangered Species Act as written, without expanding its reach based on advocacy group interpretations.