Trump Administration’s Proposed Regulations Would Gut the Endangered Species Act—Again aalberg Thu, 11/20/2025 - 16:17 photo by BlueBarronPhoto November 20, 2025 Washington, DC—Yesterday, the Trump administration unveiled proposed sweeping changes to Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations that would undermine the law’s original intent and leave threatened and endangered wildlife at a heightened risk of extinction. The language is very similar to a set of rules that were finalized during the first Trump administration—and then partially rolled back during the Biden administration.If finalized, the regulatory changes could introduce biased economic data into the process of deciding whether to list a species as threatened or endangered, eliminate key protections for threatened species, reduce vital input from federal wildlife agencies, and shrink the amount of protected habitat set aside to support species’ recovery. These destructive anti-wildlife proposals would eliminate many essential conservation tools that have long aided in the recovery of species hovering perilously close to extinction.“The Trump administration is dragging out the same tired playbook it used half a decade ago, demonstrating that it is still willing to place industry profits over the preservation and protection of our nation’s treasured wildlife, the environment, and our planet more broadly,” said Susan Millward, executive director and CEO of the Animal Welfare Institute. “We stand ready to fight back against these rules, just as we did during the first Trump term. Americans from coast to coast agree: Safeguarding threatened and endangered species and the habitats they rely on is non-negotiable.”This action follows a slew of attacks on the ESA by both the Trump administration and Congress, including a proposed rule from earlier this year that would remove habitat destruction from how “harm” to species is defined under the ESA. This change would make protecting and recovering imperiled wildlife far more difficult, furthering the administration’s apparent goal of neutralizing the world’s most effective conservation law. Since it was enacted, 99 percent of ESA-protected species have been spared from extinction. Furthermore, according to a 2025 poll, the ESA enjoys the support of more than four out of five Americans across political and geographic boundaries.Today, most imperiled species occupy small fractions of their historical range. The need for species protections has not decreased over the decades since the ESA was enacted. Rather, increased threats from development and a changing climate necessitate strong and full implementation and enforcement of the ESA—now more than ever. Media Contact Information Kim Meneo, Animal Welfare Institutekim@awionline.org, (202) 446-2116 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.