Don’t let industry get a free pass to destroy endangered species’ habitats!

What's At Stake

For 50 years, government agencies, scientists, and people like you and me have used the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to save numerous species from extinction, including the brown pelican, American alligator, humpback whale, and Florida manatee. One key to this success has been the ESA’s broad prohibition of “harm” to protected species—the common-sense concept that destroying habitat, such as a forest, beach, river, or wetland that a species relies on for survival, will harm that species.  

Now, the Trump administration wants to remove the definition of harm to try to sow chaos and create a loophole for powerful industries that profit from habitat destruction. We need your help to stop it—the window for public comment on the proposed change is open until May 19. 

This is a clear handout to industry at the expense of endangered species. The administration is trying to fast-track the clear-cutting of trees, mining, drilling for oil and gas, and other reckless actions that destroy habitats. 

Habitat destruction is the biggest threat to species in the U.S., and over one-third of them are at risk of extinction. Just one company can destroy a habitat, but when a species disappears, we all suffer the consequences. Our food and water supply, industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to tourism, our cultural and spiritual values—all of them will feel the effects of species loss. 

This misguided proposal threatens a half-century of our shared progress in protecting and restoring endangered species. We must speak out to oppose all of the Trump administration’s attacks on the Endangered Species Act.