Trump administration allows inadvertent killing of endangered species
Summary
The Trump administration changed how the Endangered Species Act is enforced by saying that accidentally killing endangered animals is no longer illegal unless it is done on purpose. This shift allows activities like logging or building dams that might unintentionally harm protected species without legal consequences.Key Facts
- The administration issued a directive saying endangered species must be intentionally harmed for it to count as illegal under the Endangered Species Act.
- Previously, even accidental harm to protected animals like grizzly bears and spotted owls was considered illegal.
- The new policy permits actions like cutting down trees or building dams even if they accidentally kill endangered species, as long as there was no intent to kill them.
- Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik clarified that harming animals indirectly or accidentally does not count as a violation.
- The change is based partly on a dissenting opinion by former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia from 1995.
- The shift follows a 2024 Supreme Court decision limiting federal agencies’ power to interpret environmental laws.
- Conservation groups and states have filed lawsuits to challenge the changes.
- Officials say the changes return the law to its original meaning and still ban deliberate harm, such as hunting or capturing protected wildlife.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
