Trump Administration to Finalize Rollback Thwarting Habitat Protection for Endangered Species

WASHINGTON, D.C— The Trump administration tomorrow is expected to finalize a rule to circumvent establishing habitat protections for endangered and threatened species. The rule follows a string of other efforts and rollbacks to weaken the Endangered Species Act under the Trump administration. 

In advance Sierra Club Senior Our Wild America campaign representative Bonnie Rice issued the following statement. 

“This rule and the others put forward by the Trump administration will be death by a thousand cuts for endangered wildlife across the country. Critical habitat is just that— critical for species’ survival and recovery. In the face of mass extinction, and climate and health crises worsened by habitat destruction and loss of nature, a rule thwarting critical habitat designation until it's too late is completely irresponsible. 

“The science is clear that we need to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030 to avoid the worst of the climate and extinction crises. We cannot afford to continue ignoring science by allowing the Trump administration’s misguided and reckless attacks on the Endangered Species Act to move forward.” 

More about the rule: The new rule defines habitat so that only current habitat can be considered for protection, excluding habitat that could be restored or that will be vital as ranges shift with a changing climate. Under the new definition, future critical habitat can’t be designated until after the areas actually become capable of supporting the endangered species. The change means that important habitat could be destroyed before it can be protected, leaving endangered and threatened species without habitats essential for their long-term survival. 

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