Trump Administration Moves to Weaken Endangered Species Act Protections

The Trump administration is pursuing changes to the Endangered Species Act that would significantly reduce federal protections for at-risk wildlife. The plan draws ideological inspiration from a 1995 dissent written by the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Scalia had expressed opposition to the federal government's practice of protecting distinct populations of endangered animals, rather than entire species. The proposed changes could narrow the scope of which animals qualify for protection under the landmark conservation law.