Trump's Rule Change Guts Habitat Protection for 300+ California Species

In 1973, our nation made a promise to protect the natural world by passing the Endangered Species Act with unanimous support. This law has since rescued species like the bald eagle and California condor from the edge of extinction, showing what’s possible when we act together. Now, that promise faces a dire threat. The Trump administration’s proposal to redefine 'harm' under the Act would remove protections for critical habitats, putting over 300 endangered species in California at risk. This change endangers the ecosystems we all rely on for clean air, water, and food.

Consider what’s at stake: a California without condors gliding overhead, rivers too barren for salmon, forests stripped of wolves’ calls. By excluding habitat modification from 'harm,' the administration would open breeding and feeding grounds to logging, mining, and sprawl. Habitat loss already threatens 64 percent of endangered species. Why would we unravel a law that’s prevented 99 percent of listed species from vanishing forever?

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by 15 other state attorneys general, has issued a powerful rebuke to this proposal. Their comment letter argues the rule breaks the Endangered Species Act’s core mission, defies established legal precedent, and violates federal administrative laws. From Massachusetts to Oregon, this coalition stands firm: we cannot let narrow interests undo decades of environmental progress.

This isn’t about bureaucracy. It’s about the kind of world we leave behind. The Act’s success stories, like the humpback whale’s rebound, remind us that protecting wildlife strengthens the web of life. Yet, the administration’s plan would weaken that web, prioritizing short-term profits over long-term survival. Every species lost diminishes us all.

The Endangered Species Act delivers results. It has stabilized ecosystems and saved species like the grizzly bear, with over 80 percent of Americans supporting its protections. A 2025 Princeton study shows land-use changes, such as deforestation, have cut species’ ranges by 13.3 percent worldwide. Strong federal habitat rules are essential to halt this decline. Without them, we risk not only wildlife but the clean water and fertile soils humans depend on daily.

Some, particularly in industries like energy and agriculture, argue the Act hampers economic growth. They back proposals like the ESA Amendments Act of 2025, which would shift authority to states, claiming local officials can better manage conservation alongside development. This view falters under examination. States already partner with federal agencies through habitat conservation plans, balancing growth with species protection. Giving states unchecked control could lead to weaker standards, as seen in 2025 lawsuits by Louisiana and Alabama against federal environmental rules favoring industry over ecosystems.

Environmental laws also drive progress. The Clean Air Act’s regulations slashed pollutants and sparked green innovation, proving that strong policies benefit both nature and economies. Weakening the Endangered Species Act would send the opposite message: innovation takes a backseat to exploitation. How can we tackle looming crises like climate change if we abandon the laws safeguarding our planet?

This battle transcends wildlife; it’s about our values. Do we cherish the ecosystems that sustain life, or do we trade them for fleeting gains? A 2024 global report found vertebrate populations have dropped 73 percent since 1970, with freshwater species down 85 percent. These losses signal a crisis. The Trump administration’s rule would hasten this decline, undermining protections for 90 percent of species reliant on intact habitats.

Resistance is mounting. Over 150,000 public comments and lawsuits from environmental groups and state attorneys general reflect a growing outcry. Congressional Democrats call this the most severe attack on the Act since its inception, and they’re correct. California’s vast protected lands, home to countless species, show what’s possible when we prioritize care over destruction. We need that commitment now more than ever.

The choice is ours. We can allow this administration to erode a law that’s saved countless species, or we can demand robust protections rooted in science and fully funded. The bald eagle’s recovery came from bold action, not retreat. Let’s summon that courage today. Contact your representatives to oppose this rule and strengthen the Endangered Species Act. Our planet and its creatures depend on us.