For Immediate Release
Washington, DC

This morning, President Trump declared a national emergency in order to bypass Congress to fund border wall construction.

Jamie Rappaport Clark, Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:

“President Trump’s declaration is a shocking overreach of executive power and will not go unchallenged. The crisis at our southern border is being manufactured by this administration; it does not constitute a national emergency. Border wall construction will have devastating consequences for wildlife and communities and we will continue to fight it no matter what tactics this administration tries to employ.”

For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on X @Defenders.

  

Media Contact

News

Image
Beaver in grand teton
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Denounces Administration's Alarming Proposed Budget Cuts to Wildlife Conservation

Defenders of Wildlife today condemned the Trump administration’s reckless FY27 budget proposal that calls on Congress to slash critical funding vital to wildlife conservation.
Image
View of Pisgah National Forest through the trees
Asheville, N.C.

Federal court rules Forest Service unlawfully relied on flawed analysis to create Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan

In a major victory for the communities and wildlife that depend on North Carolina’s Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, the U.S. District Court for the