Twenty US states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration for enacting rules they argue illegally weaken the Endangered Species Act.
The big picture: One lawsuit targets a new rule that narrows the law’s definition of “harm,” permitting habitat encroachment – such as oil drilling or mining – as long as animals are not directly killed or injured.
The second lawsuit challenges two rules: one removes blanket protections for newly threatened species unless case-by-case protections are issued, and another requires government consideration of industry objections before designating critical habitats.
New York Attorney General Letitia James indicated the cases involve attorneys general from 20 states and DC.
Driving the news: The Endangered Species Act, passed in 1973, has been credited with saving species like the bald eagle, California condor, grizzly bear, and humpback whale.
Weakening the law aligns with President Trump’s broader push to cut regulations he says restrict American business.
Go deeper: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the changes, saying the act had been used to block projects, harm competitiveness and disrupt the economy.
The new rules follow a 2024 Supreme Court decision that reduced judicial deference to agency interpretations of federal law.