Threats to a Weakened Law: The Quiet Revocation of Protections for America's Wildlife The Endangered Species Act, a bedrock conservation law that has safeguarded America's biodiversity since 1973, is facing an existential threat from within.
The Trump administration has proposed a revision to the act's definition of "harm," which would redefine it as "actual injury or death" rather than the more encompassing term used by the current law.
Environmental advocates argue that this change would effectively gut the act's ability to prevent harm to endangered species, allowing developers and corporations to exploit natural resources without being held accountable for the consequences.