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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

Washington Governor Calls for Emergency Orca Task Force

Today, Governor Jay Inslee, joined by tribal and conservation leaders from across the region, issued an executive order outlining near- and long-term actions the state
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Panther
Tallahassee, FL

At Long Last, Florida Forever Program Can Help Wildlife

The Florida legislature has agreed to appropriate $100.8 million to land conservation programs that will protect and restore wildlife habitat in the state. This includes $77 million for the Florida Forever land acquisition program.
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Polar Bear
Anchorage, AK

President Trump Moves to Sell Oil Leases in Arctic Refuge in 2019

Department of the Interior officials stated today that the administration will initiate planning this month to lease the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife
Washington, DC

Senate Democrats Release Infrastructure Plan with Environmental Safeguards, Modernization

Today, Senate Democrats offered a comprehensive plan to modernize our nation’s infrastructure that retains environmental protections and includes provisions to protect threatened and endangered species

Sullivan Hopes to Lease the Arctic Refuge by 2019

Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska wants to see the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge put up for sale in 2019 – two
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