Endangered Species Act Faces Major Habitat Rule Shift

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Trump administration has begun redefining what "harm" means for endangered species, potentially weakening critical habitat protections that safeguard wildlife.

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The Interior Department's proposed rule, now under review, could strip protections from plants and animals facing extinction by changing decades-old standards.

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Weakening the definition of harm would cut the heart out of the Endangered Species Act," warns Noah Greenwald from the Center for Biological Diversity.

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Habitat destruction stands as the primary threat to endangered species, making the legal definition of "harm" crucial for protecting wildlife from developers and industries.

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Additional rollbacks being considered include limiting critical habitat designations and requiring economic impact assessments before listing endangered species.

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Conservation groups prepare for legal battles as courts will ultimately decide what changes to the ESA are permissible under law.

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Scientists sound the alarm that over one million species worldwide face extinction in coming decades if habitat protections continue to erode.

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The changes align with "Project 2025," a conservative policy blueprint that prioritizes reducing environmental regulations in favor of economic interests.

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