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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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2011.06.21 - Caribou Roaming Across Field - Alaska - Lois Epstein.JPG
Washington, D.C.

House Votes to Overturn Conservation Protections in Alaska

The United States House of Representatives today approved resolutions under the Congressional Review Act to remove Biden-era protections from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
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2019.08.30 - Red Fox at Izembek Lagoon - Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - Alaska - Lisa Hupp USFWS.jpg
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

Defenders of Wildlife Challenges Interior’s Secretive Refuge and Wilderness Sellout on Alaskan Peninsula

Defenders of Wildlife today filed suit in federal district court to challenge Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s unlawful land exchange in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and
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Bar-tailed Godwits in marsh in NPR-A
Washington, D.C.

Senate Vote Threatens Protections for Alaska’s Western Arctic

The Senate today approved a resolution utilizing the Congressional Review Act to rollback Biden-era protections for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. This misuse of the CRA
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Horshoe crabs
Dewey Beach, DE

Fisheries Commission Adopts Short-Term Protections for Delaware Bay Ecosystem

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission today set a two-year pause on the bait harvest of female horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay, declining to adopt
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2021.11.26 - A small herd of caribou in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - Alaska - Katrina Liebich-UWFWS.jpeg
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

DOI Trades Away Alaskan Refuges, Sells Out Public Lands

The Trump administration dealt a blow to the National Wildlife Refuge System by removing protections from the Arctic and Izembek National Wildlife Refuges. During what
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