URGENT UPDATE: Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has just announced a coalition of attorneys general from 18 states opposing proposed changes to federal protections for endangered species. This group sent a critical 65-page letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, urging the administration to abandon rollbacks first initiated during the Trump administration in 2019.
These proposed changes, which are aimed at strengthening American energy independence, threaten to “weaken protections” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), according to Brown. “These changes would put endangered wildlife and critical habitats at greater risk,” he stated on social media. The coalition warns that reinstating these measures could lead to increased extinction risks for numerous species.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced the proposals last month, claiming they would enhance regulatory clarity and align with the administration’s goals. However, the attorneys general argue that the adjustments undermine vital regulations established by the ESA since its inception in 1973. This law has been instrumental in protecting species such as bald eagles, grizzly bears, and gray wolves from extinction.
The letter outlines four specific initiatives that would dramatically alter how endangered species are protected. One of the proposals concerns interagency cooperation, while others suggest economic impacts could be considered when designating critical habitats. The FWS aims to restore “flexibility” in determining when habitat designation is not prudent, a move the attorneys general view as a dangerous precedent for prioritizing financial interests over environmental protections.
A fourth initiative would revoke the “blanket rule” that currently provides equal protections for threatened species as endangered ones, instead opting for case-by-case evaluations. The attorneys general contend this change does not reflect reasonable decision-making and could exacerbate conservation challenges.
The FWS has not yet published an updated list of threatened and endangered species, but a previous list from November 8 included over 300 species such as polar bears, humpback whales, and various birds and fish. Brown emphasized that if these proposals are adopted, they would “dramatically weaken federal ESA protections, enforcement, and processes, putting imperiled species and their habitats at an even greater risk of extinction.”
This urgent matter highlights a growing conflict between conservation efforts and economic interests, drawing attention from environmental advocates and policymakers alike. The coalition of attorneys general, which includes representatives from states such as Arizona, California, New York, and Washington, is committed to fighting for science-based environmental protections.
What happens next is critical: as the administration considers these proposals, the future of numerous species hangs in the balance. The public and conservationists are urged to stay vigilant as developments unfold.
