Wildlife pros identify risks in proposed ESA revisions

The Wildlife Society has submitted formal comments on four proposed rule changes to regulations implementing the U.S. Endangered Species Act that could reshape listing decisions, threatened species protections, critical habitat designations and interagency consultation requirements. TWS warns that the revisions could weaken science-based protections for imperiled species, strain already limited agency capacity and create uncertainty by not waiting for Congress to clarify their intentions.

The proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA) rule changes would revise how species are listed, delisted and reclassified; alter protections for threatened species under Section 4(d); reshape how critical habitat is designated and excluded; and alter definitions and modify how federal agencies evaluate project impacts. In the submitted comments across the proposed rules, TWS reinforced the need for congressional clarity, supported the principles established in our Endangered Species Act position statement, and expressed concerns about the timeline for public input.

In all four comment documents, TWS emphasized that continued reductions in staffing and funding while increasing workload demands through proposed changes risk slowing listings, delaying protections and producing inconsistent outcomes. TWS emphasized that regulatory reinterpretation by agencies creates instability for conservation practitioners and agencies. Where statutory ambiguity exists, TWS urged Congress to provide durable clarification rather than relying on successive rulemakings. Across the comments, TWS emphasized that the 30-day comment period does not provide the time for nuanced review of the administration’s proposed rules. “Additional time would have enabled a more thorough and scientifically robust review with broader expert and practitioner engagement,” TWS commented.

Several TWS chapters and sections also provided feedback on the administration’s proposed rules, ensuring that the expertise of wildlife professionals from across the country was captured during the public comment period. The next Conservation Affairs Network newsletter will include a detailed look at unit-led comments.

Read TWS’ comments on the proposed changes to ESA implementing regulations here.