A coalition of U.S. states has filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration, challenging regulatory rollbacks that plaintiffs argue unlawfully weaken protections established under the Endangered Species Act.
The Endangered Species Act, enacted in 1973, provides federal protection for wildlife and plant species at risk of extinction and restricts development or activity that could harm their designated critical habitats. The Trump administration has moved to revise implementation rules governing the law, a approach consistent with its broader deregulatory agenda targeting environmental oversight across federal agencies.
The two lawsuits, reported by The New York Times and Al Jazeera, were brought by state attorneys general who contend the federal rule changes strip meaningful protections from vulnerable species and their habitats. The states argue the administration's modifications undermine the statutory intent of the Act and were adopted without adequate legal justification. Specific rule changes cited include alterations to how critical habitat is designated and how harm to species is defined under federal guidelines. The filing of two distinct legal actions suggests plaintiffs are targeting separate regulatory changes through parallel court challenges.
The lawsuits add to a growing body of litigation testing the legal boundaries of the Trump administration's environmental deregulation. A ruling against the administration could restore prior protections and set precedent limiting future rollbacks. Conversely, a favorable ruling for the administration could cement significant changes to one of the United States' foundational wildlife conservation statutes, with potential consequences for land use, development permitting, and federal resource management across multiple states.
The cases are expected to proceed through federal courts, where judges will determine whether the administration followed proper rulemaking procedures and acted within the authority granted by Congress under the Endangered Species Act.