Animals Most at Risk as Trump Rolls Back Wildlife Protections

Photo: A Northern Spotted Owl in the Medford District – May 4, 2021. Photo credit: Kyle Sullivan, BLM Oregon & Washington via Flickr. CC BY 2.0. Article by Hollie Silverman. Newsweek – updated July 12, 2026.

The Trump administration on Friday finalized a sweeping overhaul of how the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is enforced, narrowing a key definition of wildlife “harm” that has drawn condemnation from environmentalists who say the move leaves vulnerable species exposed to development. The new rule, jointly issued by the Departments of the Interior and Commerce, restricts federal agencies from regulating habitat destruction unless it directly injures or kills a protected animal. For decades, regulators had interpreted “harm” under the landmark 1973 law to include the significant degradation of habitats that species rely on for survival. […]

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