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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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grizzly bear in Alaska
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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Two lesser prairie chickens in confrontation
Washington, DC

Federal Protections Proposed for Lesser Prairie-chicken May Be Insufficient

The Interior Department announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will propose the southern population of lesser prairie-chickens for listing as endangered
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Horseshoe Crabs
Cape Romain, SC

Biden Administration Must Stop Illegal Horseshoe Crab Harvest

Today, Defenders of Wildlife called on President Biden to immediately put a stop to the illegal harvest of horseshoe crabs at Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina.
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Humpback whale cow and calf pair in Hawaii
Washington, DC

Plans for Offshore Wind in California Unveiled

Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom along with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
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Washington, DC

New study shows Australia guilty of the world’s largest downgrading of a marine national park

When vast sections of the Coral Sea Marine Park were opened up to commercial fishing in 2018 it was the largest downgrading of a protected area in history, according to a new study.
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Biodiversity collage
Washington, D.C.

Capitol Hill Hearing Examines Biodiversity Loss and Need for National Strategy

On May 19, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a full committee hearing about biodiversity loss and the drivers, impacts and potential solutions. The event featured Defenders of Wildlife Science Advisory, Dr. Leah Gerber, a leading biodiversity scientist.
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