Environmental groups, including Earthjustice and several tribes, sued the federal government shortly after the Trump administration rescinded a 50-year-old definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act—previously interpreted to include habitat degradation—that now limits protections by excluding significant habitat modification. The Interior Department and NOAA Fisheries defend the change as restoring statutory intent, reducing regulatory burdens, and benefiting landowners, while critics warn it will undermine species survival and spark widespread legal uncertainty. The Swinomish and Squaxin Island Tribes joined the lawsuit, citing threats to salmon habitats critical to their cultural and economic well-being. Industry groups like the American Petroleum Institute and construction associations support the rule, praising its potential to cut compliance costs.
Original Article Source Link:
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/14/nx-s1-5891858/trump-esa-harm-endangered-species-act-threatened-lawsuit