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black-footed ferret at the nat'l black-footed ferret conservation center
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Slams SPEED Act as it Speeds Toward Habitat Destruction

Defenders of Wildlife condemns Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) SPEED ACT, H.R. 4776 the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act, ahead of Thursday’s expected floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Roaming mountain goat
Washington, D.C.

ESA Amendments Act Poses a Historic Threat to America’s Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife remains on high alert as it braces for the House Natural Resources Committee’s full markup of Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) Endangered Species Amendments Act of 2025. More aptly labeled the Extinction Act, the bill seeks to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act, stripping away decades of crucial protections for America’s wildlife and their habitats.
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gray wolf walking with paw raised and looking at camera
Washington, D.C.

House Vote Scheduled on Ending Gray Wolf Protections, Undermining the Endangered Species Act

The House of Representatives is expected this Thursday to vote on ending gray wolf protections, prematurely delisting gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act before

Press Releases

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Arctic fox
Washington, DC

Defenders Condemns Reckless Push for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling

An oil and gas leasing program on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska will jeopardize sensitive species, irreparably damage public
Washington, DC

Trump administration announces plan to review regulations for bedrock environmental law

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) submitted an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announcing the Trump administration’s plans to review the implementing regulations

Final Agreement for Yellowstone Buffalo Means Buffalo Can Go to Tribes

The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes along with their conservation partners remain steadfast that a program agreement to divert Yellowstone buffalo from slaughter and
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Gray Wolf
Washington, DC

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Considers Dropping Threatened, Endangered Wolves from Endangered Species Act

 According to a report by the Associated Press, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has begun a review of the status of the gray wolf. U.S. FWS is considering dropping threatened and endangered gray wolves across the lower 48 states from the Endangered Species Act.
Washington, DC

Continental Divide: Photo Exhibit Highlighting Border Wall Impacts

A new photo exhibit on Capitol Hill emphasizes the potential impacts a contiguous wall along our southern border would have on communities and wildlife. The
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
jpetrequin@defenders.org
(202) 772-0243
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268