Trump Administration To Gut Endangered Species Act

The Associated Press reports:

The Trump administration is finalizing major changes Monday to the way it enforces the landmark Endangered Species Act, a move it says will reduce regulatory burden but critics charge will drive more creatures to extinction.

The administration was making public a final rule overhauling the way the federal government handles protections for plants and animals at risk of extinction. Information about the rule and Monday’s release was obtained by The Associated Press beforehand.

The Endangered Species Act is credited with helping save the bald eagle, California condor and scores of other animals and plants from extinction since President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1973.

The Endangered Species Act is enforced by the Department of the Interior, which is currently led by former oil industry lobbyist David Bernhardt.

Opponents have called the Trump administration’s move to weaken the Endangered Species Act “unlawful,” “harmful” and “a gift to industry.” https://t.co/RrFOkMBgWp

— HuffPost (@HuffPost) August 12, 2019

Trump administration set to overhaul the Endangered Species Act to improve enforcement; conservation groups say it will drive more species toward extinction. https://t.co/a30E16UfO6 pic.twitter.com/bmxqbRNxLD

— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) August 12, 2019