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President Trump signs executive order to review endangered species protections for gray and Mexican wolves

President Trump signed an executive order on Friday directing federal officials to review Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves and Mexican wolves. The order gives Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to determine whether the wolves have met federal recovery criteria for delisting or downlisting. If the administration determined the wolves have recovered enough, it would begin the process of removing or reducing their federal protections while preparing legislative recommendations for Congress. This move is intended to support the cattle industry and help lower beef prices for consumers. The administration announced that the U.S. cattle herd has fallen to its lowest level in 75 years, while demand for beef has continued to grow. The order also directs the Interior and Agriculture departments to consider revising regulations governing lethal wolf removal, compensation programs for livestock losses, and emergency responses involving wolves that threaten livestock or human safety.\n While the order aims to make it easier for ranchers to kill predators, some conservationists have criticized the move. They argue that weakening federal protections could reverse decades of recovery work. Some critics also noted that wolves are often a scapegoat for broader challenges facing ranchers, such as the recent decision to ease tariffs on imported beef.

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