Trump administration’s new attack on endangered species act opens door to massive industrial expansion

The Trump administration has announced sweeping rollbacks to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), potentially undoing five decades of conservation success that has prevented 99% of protected species from going extinct. The changes, revealed last week by federal agencies, would make it significantly easier for oil, gas, mining, and logging companies to operate in protected habitats while making it harder to list new species for protection.

The proposed changes are particularly troubling for their scope and timing. They would eliminate the “blanket rule” that gives threatened species the same protections as endangered ones, allow economic factors to influence species protection decisions, and limit agencies’ ability to consider future climate impacts when determining which species need help. This comes alongside other major environmental rollbacks, including plans to remove protections from millions of acres of wetlands and open 1.3 billion acres of coastal waters to new drilling.

Beyond wildlife, these changes could significantly accelerate climate change. Protected forests and wetlands act as massive carbon storage systems, absorbing greenhouse gases that would otherwise contribute to global warming. “You’re hurting the species and the ecosystem, and you’re harming the climate,” explains Rebecca Riley of the Natural Resources Defense Council. The rollbacks also clear the way for expanded fossil fuel extraction, creating what Riley calls a “double effect” of environmental damage.

Despite Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s claims that the changes restore the ESA’s “original intent,” polls show four out of five Americans support the current law. The administration is accepting public comments on the proposed changes for 30 days, offering concerned citizens a chance to voice opposition before these historic protections are potentially dismantled.