Defenders of Wildlife Submits Technical Comments and Over 8,600 Public Comments in Efforts to Stop Harmful ESA Proposals

Defenders of Wildlife today submitted its technical comments opposing the Trump administration’s proposals to weaken the Endangered Species Act’s implementing regulations. In addition to its technical comments, Defenders submitted a petition comment letter with over 8,600 signatories. These individuals join a growing number of more than 341,000 commenters from across the nation who oppose the proposed regulation changes.  

"The Trump administration's persistent efforts to kill the Endangered Species Act by making a thousand cuts to its implementing regulations not only represents a direct attack on our shared national heritage but also a shameful ignorance of what is needed to protect and restore America’s vulnerable wildlife,” said Andrew Bowman, president and CEO at Defenders of Wildlife. “Defenders stands at the ready to fight back against these attacks and to ensure a future rich in wildlife for all to enjoy.”

If finalized, these proposed revisions would significantly undermine the Endangered Species Act’s implementation. They would:

• Drastically weaken protections for listed species
• Raise the bar for listing species as threatened
• Complicate efforts to assess and mitigate federal activities’ impacts on listed species
• Open the door for special interest groups to drill, mine, log, and develop in habitats essential to species survival and recovery

"The Endangered Species Act has been at the forefront of protecting wildlife for over 50 years, saving nearly all listed species in the U.S. from extinction. The administration’s proposals to drastically weaken the ESA’s implementing regulations threaten this track record, and will have grave consequences for animals, plants, ecosystems and human well-being," said Jane Davenport, senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife. "These proposals are cause for alarm not only to conservationists, but also the American public. The administration should withdraw these proposals as inconsistent with the ESA’s mandate that science, not politics, guide its implementation."

The strong public concern demonstrated by the high volume of comments submitted in opposition to these proposals reflects how critical this issue is to Americans. It is consistent with polling conducted by Defenders of Wildlife in 2025 showing 95% of voters support the ESA and 50% believe it should be strengthened, not weakened.  

The administration held a 30-day comment period that will close Monday evening. Defenders will continue to advocate against attacks on our nation’s premier wildlife conservation law, such as these proposed regulations.  

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