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Trump Administration Directive Would Allow Killing of Endangered Wildlife

WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a sweeping new directive that attempts to strip imperiled wildlife of protections from most activities that can kill or injure them.

“This stabs at the very heart of the Endangered Species Act by giving federal approval to the killing of some of America’s most beloved wildlife,” said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The Trump administration is desperate to annihilate environmental protections, but this incredibly radical measure is both cruel and profoundly unlawful. Killing endangered wildlife is illegal, whether that’s your purpose or not.”

The Sept. 14 memo from Brian Nesvik, director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, attempts to fundamentally rewrite the Endangered Species Act’s prohibition on “take,” effectively ending nearly all potential law enforcement activities under the Act.

Read more.

Media Contacts:

Media director: Patrick Sullivan, [email protected], (510) 844-7116
Climate: Nyshie Perkinson, Media Specialist – [email protected], (718) 928-5148
Endangered species, carnivore conservation: Aaron Kunkler, Media Specialist – [email protected], (206) 949-5353
Energy justice: Mary K. Reinhart, Deputy Media Director – [email protected], (602) 320-7309
Oceans, international wildlife, and Alaska: Natalie Jones, Media Specialist – [email protected], (510) 418-0179
Oil and gas pollution, decommissioning issues: Kyle Dunphey, Media Specialist – [email protected]
Pesticides, toxics, air pollution, industrial agriculture and environmental health: Andy Parker, Media Specialist – [email protected], (503) 310-5569
Population and sustainability: Kim Dinan, Media Specialist – [email protected], (513) 535-1306
Public Lands, national monuments: Mary K. Reinhart, Deputy Director of the Media Program – [email protected], (602) 320-7309
Southwest, borderlands, New Mexico, Southern Rockies, Northern Rockies and Great Basin: Vanessa Barchfield, Senior Media Specialist – [email protected], (520) 867-6686
Urban wildlands, government affairs: Wendy Leung, Senior Media Specialist – [email protected], (818) 625-3128
Media photos: Patrick Sullivan, Media Director, [email protected], (510) 844-7116

Ocelot by Robin Silver/Center for Biological Diversity.