The Trump administration has finalized a rule that changes enforcement of the Endangered Species Act by narrowing the legal definition of 'harm' under the landmark law.
Key facts
- The Trump administration finalized the rule on Friday.
- The change affects how agencies enforce the Endangered Species Act.
- The administration narrowed the definition of 'harm' under the law.
- The Endangered Species Act is described as a landmark law.
The Trump administration on Friday finalized a rule that changes how federal agencies enforce the Endangered Species Act, according to NPR. The move centers on narrowing the definition of “harm” under the landmark conservation law.
The Endangered Species Act is one of the country’s central legal tools for protecting imperiled wildlife. NPR reported that the administration’s rule alters the way agencies apply the law’s protections by revising what counts as “harm.”
How “harm” is defined has significant practical consequences for the law’s reach. The definition helps determine which activities affecting protected species and their surroundings can be regulated or restricted under the statute.
NPR characterized the change as a rollback of a key protection for imperiled wildlife. By narrowing the term, the administration adjusts the scope of conduct that agencies can treat as prohibited under the Act.
The rule was finalized Friday, marking a formal step that puts the revised enforcement approach into effect. Further details on the specific language of the new definition were not provided in the available reporting.
Why it matters
The Endangered Species Act is a cornerstone of U.S. wildlife protection, and how 'harm' is defined shapes what activities can be limited to protect vulnerable species. Narrowing that definition could change the level of protection afforded to imperiled wildlife across the country.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Trump administration change?
According to NPR, the administration finalized a rule that changes how agencies enforce the Endangered Species Act by narrowing the definition of 'harm' under the law.
When was the rule finalized?
NPR reported that the rule was finalized on Friday.
Why does the definition of 'harm' matter?
NPR described the change as a rollback of a key protection for imperiled wildlife, indicating that how 'harm' is defined affects the scope of the law's protections.