The Trump administration has proposed a significant change to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that could dramatically reduce protections for wildlife habitats across the United States. The proposal, announced on April 16, 2025, would redefine what it means to “harm” a protected species under the landmark conservation law. The Core Change The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service want to remove habitat destruction from the definition of “harm” under the ESA. Currently, “harm” includes “significant habitat modification or degradation” that could hurt endangered species. The new definition would limit harm to direct actions that kill or … Continue reading Endangered Species Act Redefinition May Strip Legal Habitat Protections Nationwide