The Trump administration has initiated a controversial proposal to redefine the term "harm" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), raising significant alarms among environmentalists and advocates for wildlife protection. Issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this proposed rule seeks to repeal a long-standing interpretation that encompassed the destruction of habitats, thus reducing the scope of protections for endangered plants and animals.
This move aligns with a broader agenda by the Trump administration aimed at promoting drilling, logging, and development projects across the United States. By narrowing the definition of harm to focus solely on direct actions such as hunting or trapping, the administration is responding to businesses that argue current regulations hinder economic growth.
Critics, including Andrew Bowman, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, have pointed out that habitat destruction is the primary factor driving many species toward extinction. He emphasized that most endangered or threatened wildlife is listed precisely due to habitat loss. The proposed changes could render it nearly impossible to safeguard critical ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, and rivers, which are essential for the survival of these species.
The changes represent what many view as the most significant rollback of protections for endangered species since the ESA's inception in 1973 during Richard Nixon's presidency, igniting a wave of opposition from environmental groups dedicated to conserving biodiversity and protecting the natural environment.
