Friday July 31, 2026
The Sacramento Bee —
Since President Donald Trump took office for a second term, his administration has rolled back numerous environmental protections.
The latest target is the Endangered Species Act, one of the nation’s bedrock conservation laws. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of the Interior issued a new interpretation of what would constitute harming an endangered species that sharply loosens the act’s protections related to the degradation of protected wildlife’s habitat.
Though Republicans have long sought changes to how the act is interpreted, the rule change marks the most ambitious rollback to the landmark environmental law by the Trump administration yet.
The move has drawn a wide range of responses in Northern California. Environmental organizations have decried the change as a complete gutting that will rapidly accelerate extinctions, and have sued in federal court.
State officials have also indicated their opposition but have yet to take legal action themselves.