Trump Administration Opens Endangered Species Habitats to Logging and Mining

The Trump administration has finalized a new rule that removes key protections from the Endangered Species Act. The change allows logging, mining, and other development in areas critical for the survival of imperiled wildlife. For the past 50 years, the law defined “harm” to include damage to an animal’s habitat. This broader interpretation protected not only the species themselves but also the places they need to live. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld this definition in 1995, supporting forest protections for the endangered spotted owl. Habitat destruction is the leading cause of species loss. The Endangered Species Act has prevented 99% of listed species from going extinct. Critics call the new rule a “death sentence” for vulnerable wildlife.