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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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California Tiger Salamander
Redding, CA

Fishing and Conservation Groups Sue Country's Largest Agricultural Water District Over Illegal Plot to Raise Shasta Dam

Yesterday, a coalition of fishing and conservation groups filed a lawsuit against Westlands Water District for unlawfully aiding efforts by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to raise Shasta Dam.
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Bald eagle
Washington, DC

House Appropriations Committee Moves to Fund, Protect Wildlife

Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:  “Our nation’s wildlife is increasingly threatened by habitat loss, climate change and invasive species in what the United Nations has now confirmed as our planet’s sixth mass extinction. We haven’t a moment to spare. Congress must act to protect and restore wildlife by funding programs to preserve species and habitat.
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Scarlet_Macaw
Los Tuxtlas, Mexico

Report: Scarlet Macaw Reintroduction Project Celebrates Five Years

Five years after the reintroduction of scarlet macaws into the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, leaders of the reintroduction project released a report detailing its progress. The report, “Slow but sure assimilation to culture and ecotourism of reintroduced scarlet macaws in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico,” was published in the Journal of Ecotourism on April 18, 2019.
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Polar Bears
Washington

Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Leaders Respond to Alaska Governor's Letter

Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Jamie Rappaport Clark and former FWS Alaska Regional Director Geoffrey L. Haskett have issued a response to Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy’s criticism of FWS staff.
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Border wall comparison Matt Clark/Defenders
Tucson, AZ

Trump Administration Arizona Border Proposal Would Wall Off National Wildlife Refuges

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced plans yesterday to replace 63 miles of pedestrian fencing and vehicle barrier with new bollard style wall in Pima and Cochise Counties.
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