Trump administration weakens wildlife protections with new directive
- Posted on September 18, 2026
- By Chicago Tribune
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
The Trump administration has introduced a controversial policy directive affecting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, significantly narrowing the legal protections for endangered species. Under the new guidelines, wildlife can only be prosecuted for illegal killing if deliberately targeted, eliminating protections for unintentional harm to imperiled animals and plants. This policy shift raises concerns among conservation advocates regarding the future of endangered species protection and ecosystem management in the United States.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
Trump administration weakens wildlife protections with new directive
A directive sent to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees this week says imperiled animals or plants must be intentionally targeted for their killing to be considered illegal.
