This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

The Endangered Species Act is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent the extinction of wild animals and plants across the United States. For more than 50 years, it has protected bald eagles, condors, wolves, manatees, and other animals consisting of thousands of species who might not be here today without it. Now, the ESA is facing an unprecedented threat, and your help is urgently needed.

The Trump Administration has proposed sweeping regulatory changes that would weaken the ESA from within. These rollbacks would make it easier for a myriad of industries to damage or destroy essential habitat, harder for biologists to safeguard wild animals, and faster for federal agencies to approve harmful development without proper oversight. If adopted, these changes could push already vulnerable species past the point of recovery.

The proposed rules undermine the core mission of the Endangered Species Act, which is to prevent extinction and give wild animals a chance to recover. Under these changes, threatened animals would no longer automatically receive protections. Newly listed threatened species would not have immediate safeguards against killing, injury, or harassment, protections that are crucial for preventing them from becoming endangered.

Critical habitat could also go unprotected. Agencies would have broad discretion to exclude areas that scientists consider essential for recovery, even when species have nowhere else to go.

Science could be overshadowed by economic interests. For decades, ESA decisions have been based on biological risk rather than industry pressure. These proposed changes would allow economic considerations to influence whether a species receives protection.

Additionally, harmful development could move forward without a wildlife review. Weakening the longstanding consultation process would make it easier for destructive projects to proceed, even if they threaten endangered or threatened species.

These rollbacks shift the balance away from conservation and toward exploitation, habitat destruction, and extinction, undermining efforts for survival, recovery, and compassion.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Preserve the Endangered Species Act!

I strongly oppose the proposed regulatory changes that would weaken the Endangered Species Act. The ESA has protected 99% of listed species from extinction and remains one of our most effective wildlife conservation laws.

The proposed rules undermine the core mission of the Endangered Species Act, which is to prevent extinction and give wild animals a chance to recover.

Under these changes, threatened animals would no longer automatically receive protections. Newly listed threatened species would not have immediate safeguards against killing, injury, or harassment, protections that are crucial for preventing them from becoming endangered.

Critical habitat could also go unprotected. Agencies would have broad discretion to exclude areas that scientists consider essential for recovery, even when members of the species have nowhere else to go.

Science could be overshadowed by economic interests. For decades, ESA decisions have been based on biological risk rather than industry pressure. These proposed changes would allow economic considerations to influence whether a species receives protection.

Additionally, harmful development could move forward without a wildlife review. Weakening the longstanding consultation process would make it easier for destructive projects to proceed, even if they threaten endangered or threatened species.

These rollbacks shift the balance away from conservation and toward exploitation, habitat destruction, and extinction, undermining efforts for survival, recovery, and compassion.

Please reject these dangerous revisions and maintain strong, science-based protections for threatened and endangered species.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.