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Florida panther
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Submits Technical Comments and Over 8,400 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.
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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.

Press Releases

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Capitol Building
Washington, DC

2022 Appropriations Fall Short of Conservation Needs

In a disappointing turn of events for the ever-increasing conservation needs of the U.S ., Congress’ appropriations for the upcoming year fell short, especially on funding for Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections and recovery efforts.
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Willow ptarmigan female Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Anchorage, AK

Ninth Circuit Court Ruling Threatens Land, Water, Wildlife in Izembek Refuge

A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling today threatens the health of the land, water and wildlife in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge by allowing the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to trade away public land and congressionally designated Wilderness to a private corporation for the purpose of building a commercial road.
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Williamson’s Sapsucker on a branch
Riverside, California

Proposed Riverside County National Wildlife Refuge Gains Valuable Congressional Allies, Broad Community Support

At a hike within the boundaries of the proposed National Wildlife Refuge in western Riverside County, representatives from Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) and Rep. Ken
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beluga whale
Alaska

New Defenders of Wildlife Study Identifies Chief Threats to Cook Inlet Belugas Recovery

Findings in a new Defenders of Wildlife study published in Frontiers in Marine Science, show that threats like pollution and prey limitations are preventing recovery
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Jaguar on a log
Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Assists Ecuador with International Wildlife Trade Treaty Compliance

A collaboration between Defenders of Wildlife and the Ecuadorian government yielded new legislation that will bring the nation back into compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
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