The incoming Trump administration is poised to roll back Biden-era policies tied to the Endangered Species Act, leveraging regulatory changes, budget cuts and Congressional tools.
Michael Doyle reports for E&E News.
In short:
- The Trump administration and Congress may undo Biden administration regulations, including rules about critical habitats and economic considerations in species listings.
- The Congressional Review Act could enable Congress to rescind recent Fish and Wildlife Service actions, though vetoes by President Biden previously blocked similar moves.
- Budget adjustments and new policy appointees could reshape ESA implementation without altering the law itself.
Key quote:
“Every administration this century has done significant ESA regulatory reform, and that is almost certain to continue.”
— Jonathan Wood, Property and Environment Research Center
Why this matters:
Policy shifts under the ESA impact biodiversity and habitat conservation nationwide. Changes could weaken protections for vulnerable species like the Yellowstone grizzly bear and Rice’s whale, affecting ecosystems and environmental health.
Flashback to 2020: As the nation reels, Trump Administration continues environmental policy rollbacks
