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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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cabeza_prieta_national_wildlife_refuge

Lawsuit Challenging Diversion of Military Funds for Border Construction Moves Forward

In some good news in the fight against the building of the border wall, which would be devastating for wildlife, a District Court Judge ruled Thursday that a key challenge in our lawsuit can move forward: whether President Trump can legally divert $3.6 billion in military funds to build a wall.
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Bay-Delta
SACRAMENTO

Environmental Coalition Urges California Governor to Maintain Water Quality Regulations During COVID-19 Crisis

Following last week’s sweeping announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it will suspend enforcement of environmental protection laws due to the current COVID-19 crisis, California environmental groups urge Governor Newsom not to follow the federal government’s lead.
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Pelicans after BP oil spill Gulf of Mexico June 2010
Washington, DC

Trump Administration Moves Ahead with Oil and Gas Drilling on Public Lands and Waters

Last week, the Trump administration moved forward with a 78 million acre lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. This rush to drill comes right before the 10th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster that occurred on April 20, 2010.
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Threatened Agassiz's desert tortoise hatchling
SACRAMENTO

Conservation Groups Petition for Stronger Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise Protections

Today, Defenders of Wildlife, along with the Desert Tortoise Council and Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to change the listing status of Agassiz’s desert tortoise from threatened to endangered.
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Manatee with baby
Washington, DC

6 Ways We’re Defending Wildlife During a National Emergency

6 Ways We’re Defending Wildlife During a National Emergency As the world is “social distancing” amid a global pandemic, Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19), and communities across
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