We Urge The Trump Administration To Strengthen, Not Weaken, The Endangered Species Act

For more than 50 years, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been one of America’s most successful and widely supported conservation laws. According to reports, the ESA has prevented the extinction of 99% of the species under its care, and fewer than 1% of listed species have gone extinct.

The ESA has played a crucial role in protecting species that faced serious decline, such as the bald eagle, California condor, Florida manatee, and gray whale, along with many others that are still struggling to recover.

Proposed changes to federal regulations threaten to weaken the protections that vulnerable species rely on for survival. These revisions would roll back essential habitat safeguards, restrict what qualifies as “critical habitat,” and eliminate the blanket rule that guarantees protections for newly listed threatened species.

They would also allow economic factors to influence the listing of species and limit the ability to protect habitat that wildlife may rely on in the future. For species already struggling with deforestation, habitat loss, pollution, and a rapidly shifting climate, such changes could push countless animals even closer to extinction.

Strengthening, rather than weakening, ESA protections requires strong leadership. This is a critical time in history to reaffirm America’s long-standing commitment to conserving wildlife and restoring healthy ecosystems. Protecting our natural heritage means safeguarding the species that depend on us not only to survive, but to recover and thrive in the wild.

We urge the Trump Administration to uphold and strengthen the Endangered Species Act by:

• Preserve protections for threatened species, ensuring safeguards are not delayed or weakened.

• Maintain strong habitat protections, including areas that species may need to migrate to or expand into as the climate shifts.

• Protect the ability to designate critical habitat on a broad scale, including areas not currently occupied but vital for a species’ recovery.

• Continue bipartisan cooperation, which has been the foundation of the ESA’s success for more than five decades.

Protecting endangered species is not a partisan issue, it is America’s responsibility. Wildlife brings ecological balance, economic value through visitors to our national parks, and majestic beauty to our nation’s landscapes. People across the country overwhelmingly support keeping our wildlife protected and safe from harm.

We hope President Trump will hear the voices of millions who care deeply about our nation’s wildlife and wild spaces. By preserving and strengthening the Endangered Species Act, President Trump has an opportunity to stand with the American people, protect precious wildlife, and leave a legacy of conservation that future generations will be grateful for.

Now is the time to choose protection over rollbacks, to choose stewardship over short-term gain, and to ensure that the wildlife we love and cherish continues to thrive long after we’re gone.