U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues directive on endangered species

Brian Nesvik, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has issued a directive that expands the lack of protection for endangered species. Under this new policy, individuals and companies may kill endangered animals during activities such as deforestation and urban development projects, provided that the killing is not the primary objective of the activity.

This memorandum is described as one of the most drastic measures taken by the Trump administration to limit the scope of the Endangered Species Act. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from scientists and conservationists. Brett Hartl of the Center for Biological Diversity and former wildlife recovery coordinator Chris Servheen have both criticized the policy, suggesting it effectively renders the law meaningless by removing accountability for the loss of protected species during industrial and developmental work.