History
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been under relentless attack for years, from both past Congresses and throughout the Trump Administration. Agriculture, including grazing, extractive industries, such as mining, oil and gas, and some unscrupulous developers consider the ESA an impediment to profits. Their lobbyists donate money to elected officials and those officials propose legislation and policy that weakens the Act. Despite the overwhelming popularity of the ESA with the American people, and the importance of robust biodiversity to healthy ecosystems, the attacks continue relentlessly and occasionally succeed.
Threats to the Act
Recent examples of the assaults on the ESA include several sweeping final rule changes in 2019. These rules weakened the consultation, listing and recovery provisions of the Act. Congressional members that support the ESA fought back by introducing the Protect America’s Wildlife and Fish Act that would void the rules. But the assaults did not stop, with new rules from the Trump Administration that weaken the critical habitat provisions in the law. Congress has also threatened to delist species in legislation and the Trump Administration may issue a final rule removing protections for wolves from the ESA. The Endangered Species Coalition (ESC), our member groups, and the public are working to block, stop or overturn these actions.
The Road Ahead
For decades, scientists, agency staff, and partner organizations have worked tirelessly to protect our most vulnerable species. However, with a diminished capacity to act due to insufficient staffing, science-backed conservation decisions often grind to a halt. Delays in listing species or designating critical habitats undermine the very purpose of the ESA.
We need policies that not only protect endangered species but also ensure the agencies charged with that protection remain fully equipped, staffed, funded, and empowered.