🇺🇸 Donald Trump
Trump Has Made it Legal to Destroy Endangered Species Habitats
What happened
The Trump administration announced a rule change that redefines "harm" under the Endangered Species Act to only include direct killing of endangered animals, rather than habitat destruction, which was previously considered a form of harm. This change was made despite the long-standing definition of "harm" established in 1975 and upheld by the Supreme Court in 1995. The new rule was announced without the legally required notice, review, or application process.
Why it matters
The change in the definition of "harm" has significant implications for the protection of endangered species and their habitats, and could lead to increased destruction of habitats and extinction of species. This change is part of a larger pattern of deregulation and environmental rollbacks by the Trump administration, which could have far-reaching consequences for the environment and public health.
Key facts
- The Trump administration's rule change redefines "harm" under the Endangered Species Act.
- The new definition excludes habitat destruction from the definition of "harm".
- Companies and individuals will only be held liable for an endangered animal's death under the ESA if they intended to kill it.
- The change was made without the legally required notice, review, or application process.
- The administration has a history of environmental rollbacks and deregulation.
Topics
Publisher evidence used
Reporting attributed to thenation.com. WorldLeadersNews links readers to the publisher and does not present a headline-only item as a full article analysis.
Related leaders
