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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

Trump Administration Seeks Even More Arctic Industrialization

The Trump administration continued its assault today on the fragile ecosystems of Alaska’s Arctic, announcing that it is revising the management plan for the National

More Wolves in WDFW’s Crosshairs

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today authorization for lethal removal of wolves in two more packs. The Togo pack is now

Lawsuit Launched to Compel Trump Administration Transparency on Arctic Refuge Drilling

Defenders sued the Trump administration today for failing to release public records related to potential exploration, leasing, and drilling on the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Defenders of Wildlife Reacts to Election Results

Wildlife should breathe a bit easier now that the American people have voted to dethrone House leaders relentlessly hostile to their interests. We anticipate the

Court Victory: Wild Red Wolves Get a Chance at Survival

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina today issued an order declaring that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the
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