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Northern Spotted Owl in Tree
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders Expands Legal Challenge to Trump Administration’s Assault on Endangered Species Act

Defenders of Wildlife today filed an amended complaint challenging the Trump administration’s escalating effort to dismantle longstanding protections for threatened and endangered wildlife under the Endangered Species Act.
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Salt Marsh - Cumberland Island
ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

NPS Land Swaps and Visitor Plan Open the Door to Devastating Impacts at Cumberland Island

In advance of a public hearing on proposed land exchanges on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Defenders of Wildlife called on the National Park Service to remedy a host of management issues facing one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands on the East Coast.
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2019.08.07 - Florida Panther looking straight at camera - MS 45 - fStop Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Memo Underscores Trump Administration’s All-Fronts War on Wildlife

Brian Nesvik, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, issued a memorandum explaining to FWS staff that the Endangered Species Act’s prohibition on unauthorized “take” applies only to affirmative acts intentionally and purposefully directed at a particular animal. This follows the Trump administration’s rescission of the regulatory definitions of “harm” under the ESA, which took effect this week.

Press Releases

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Border wall comparison Matt Clark/Defenders

Over 2,500 Scientists Warn the Border Wall Will Harm Biodiversity

Today BioScience, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, published an article titled “Nature Divided, Scientists United: U.S.-Mexico Border Wall Threatens Biodiversity and Binational Conservation” that highlights the

Organizations Call on Trump Administration to Reverse Decisions from Tainted Monuments Review

Monday’s report in the Washington Post further proves that the Trump administration’s national monument review has been a predetermined exercise from the very beginning, designed

Congressional Negotiators Dump Anti-Wildlife Riders

Lawmakers stripped almost all of the anti-wildlife riders attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) from the final conference report. These included ones harming

Trump Administration Stakes Out Unlawful “Road to Ruin” through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

Despite pending litigation, the Trump administration secretly ordered ground-disturbing survey work to facilitate an illegal land trade and construction of a destructive road through wilderness

Sweeping Rewrite of Endangered Species Act Regulations Endangers Species

Proposed changes to key regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act – our nation’s most important endangered wildlife and habitat conservation law – will weaken federal
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