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Sea otter with head poking above the water
Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Urges Public Opposition to NOAA’s Planned Review That Could Weaken California’s Authority to Protect its Coastline

NOAA will review California's Coastal Management Program following a directive from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Defenders of Wildlife urges public participation in upcoming public meetings to protect California's coast, wildlife, and state authority.
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Grand Teton NP
WASHINGTON, D.C.

America the Beautiful Act Would Reauthorize Nearly $2 billion for National Parks and Public Lands

Defenders of Wildlife supports passage of the America the Beautiful Act, sponsored by Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR).
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Rocky coastline of the Atlantic ocean with native plants in the foreground under a fog
Washington, DC

BLM Oil and Gas Rule Rescission Threatens Wildlife Habitat — and American Pocketbooks

Today, the Bureau of Land Management announced a proposed rule to rescind the 2024 BLM Oil and Gas rule which will significantly roll back bonding requirements for oil and gas companies and reduce public comment periods for drilling applications.

Press Releases

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wolverine
Washington, D.C.

House Interior Bill Attacks Crucial Protections for Imperiled Wildlife and Public Lands

Defenders of Wildlife today slammed the House Appropriations Committee’s proposed Interior and Environment spending bill for Fiscal Year 2027, which includes numerous damaging policy riders intended to weaken the Endangered Species Act and undermine protections for individual species.
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gray wolf laying in snow looking at the camera
Denver, CO

Defenders Backs Colorado, Calls on Federal Government to Push Onward with Gray Wolf Reintroduction

Following the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's request for information on the Colorado gray wolf reintroduction program, Defenders of Wildlife submitted a comment letter urging the program continue.
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Mike Leahy
Washington, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Announces Mike Leahy as New Vice President of Government Relations

Defenders of Wildlife is pleased to announce Mike Leahy as its new Vice President of Government Relations.
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manta rays swimming in the shallow ocean with coral
Fort Myers, FL

Defenders of Wildlife Applauds Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for Tightening Protections for Listed Species

Defenders of Wildlife welcomes today’s action by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to end open permitting for the capture of ESA-threatened marine species in Florida waters for public display and exhibition purposes.
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NARW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Legal Intervention Aims to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Ship Strikes

Conservation groups today filed a motion to intervene to help fight a lawsuit aimed at overturning a seasonal speed rule protecting North Atlantic right whales from deadly vessel strikes. The groups want to defend the rule against a lawsuit brought by a New York vessel owner fined for violating seasonal speed limits. The suit alleges that NOAA Fisheries lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule.
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244
Communications Director
mdewane@defenders.org
(202) 772-0217
Communications Specialist
jcovey@defenders.org
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268
Communications Specialist
estern@defenders.org
202-772-0243