The Trump White House is scaling back how the Endangered Species Act (ESA) will be used by the US government to address wildlife and animal protections. The new reading of the law will make it easier for logging and oil drilling companies to encroach on regions with endangered animals. The ESA was passed by Congress in 1973. It declares that trading or “taking” endangered animals is against the law. That meant one may not "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect” them. But the White House has now narrowed the scope of the term “harm.” The change was announced Friday. Congress approved the law to protect endangered and threatened species. It's meant to protect at-risk habitats too. Conservationists credit the ESA with saving many species that would have gone extinct over the years. One is the bald eagle. A second is the American alligator. A third is the California condor. Trump's team said it is going back to the original intent of the law, The Associated Press (AP) said. But conservationists say the move will surely allow for oil and gas drilling. They also fear it'll allow for mining, logging, and other harmful actions. These will impinge on, or even destroy, crucial land for at-risk species, they say. This is one of the most severe attempts to harm wildlife ever in the US, Aaron Weiss told the AP. Weiss is the executive director of the Center for Western Priorities. Weiss called the change "a gift to the oil barons and foreign miners.” Doug Burghum is Trump’s interior secretary. In a written statement, he said past White House teams had been too strict in how the ESA was used. He said the ESA has been abused for years. He said the abuse blocks "lawful land use." He also said it burdens US families and businesses. Trump's team first proposed the change in April 2025. Officials cited a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that restricted how US agencies could enforce environmental statutes passed by Congress. Conservationists didn't see success when fighting that change. Reflect: If you could protect one living thing from disappearing forever, what would you choose and why?
