US states sue federal agencies over Endangered Species Act rollbacks

Endangered Species Act habitat protection environmental litigation wildlife conservation regulatory rollback

A coalition of 21 state attorneys general and the District of Columbia have filed two lawsuits against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The legal action challenges recent federal rules that roll back protections under the Endangered Species Act.

The first lawsuit targets the rescission of the regulatory definition of 'harm.' Previously, this definition included significant habitat modification or degradation. The new rule narrows 'harm' to actions that directly injure or kill animals, which critics argue opens sensitive habitats to mining, logging, and oil drilling.

The second lawsuit challenges rules that eliminate broad protections for newly threatened species and establishes a new process for designating critical habitats. This new process requires the government to consider objections from developers and fossil fuel companies before designating protected areas.

Former leaders of federal wildlife agencies have also urged the administration to withdraw these rollbacks, warning that excluding habitat destruction from the definition of harm undermines the ability to prevent species extinction.

Entities

Donald Trump · Endangered Species Act · Letitia James · National Marine Fisheries Service · Nick Brown · Rob Bonta · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 12 SOURCES] The first lawsuit challenges the rescission of the regulatory definition of 'harm' in the Endangered Species Act. www.fox13seattle.com · stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · +7 more
[● 7 SOURCES] A rule change requires the government to consider objections from developers and fossil fuel companies before designating critical habitats. stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · +2 more
[● 12 SOURCES] The lawsuits target the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. www.fox13seattle.com · missoulacurrent.com · time.news · stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · +7 more
[● 9 SOURCES] The second lawsuit challenges rules that eliminate broad protections for newly threatened species unless species-specific regulations are created. stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · +4 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The new definition of 'harm' allows activities like mining and oil drilling in sensitive habitats as long as they are not directed immediately and intentionally at specific animals. stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · +3 more
[● 12 SOURCES] A coalition of 21 states and the District of Columbia filed two lawsuits against federal wildlife agencies. www.fox13seattle.com · stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · barbadosgazette.com · +7 more