Trump puts the endangered in danger: White House moves to roll back key species protections

The Trump administration has unveiled a fresh set of regulatory rollbacks targeting the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a move that experts and environmental groups warn could deepen risks for vulnerable wildlife across the US. The proposals revive and expand efforts from Trump’s first term, many of which were blocked by courts or reversed by the Biden administration, and would reshape how threatened and endangered species are protected. Under the new plan, federal agencies would gain greater authority to consider economic impacts when designating critical habitats. Environmental organisations say this marks a significant shift from the ESA’s long-standing practice of relying primarily on scientific evidence when determining habitat needs. Critics argue the change could increase develo