Sam's News — conservation — 2026-09-30

Conservation

8 Trump Administration Removes Habitat Protections from Endangered Species Act

The Trump administration finalized a rule on July 10, 2026 removing the regulatory definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act, eliminating decades-old habitat destruction protections. The change allows logging, mining, oil and gas drilling, and development to proceed in endangered species habitats, as habitat degradation will no longer legally count as illegal "take" under the statute.

• Rule finalized July 10, 2026; takes effect September 14, 2026
• Removes regulatory definition of 'harm' to exclude habitat destruction from Endangered Species Act protections
• Habitat loss is the primary driver of extinction, undermining species protection while allowing habitat destruction to continue
• Weakens U.S. credibility in asking other nations to conserve forests, wetlands, and critical habitats

Sources: Center for Biological Diversity AI Web Searched, Mongabay AI Web Searched