The administration rescinds the "harm rule" to streamline the Endangered Species Act and facilitate industrial development.
The administration announced the formal rescission of the "harm rule" under the Endangered Species Act, a move that redefines how the government protects imperiled wildlife. By removing the requirement that habitat degradation constitutes "harm," the administration allows for more flexibility in oil and gas drilling, mining, and real estate development. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that the previous rules often stalled new projects, which increased costs for families and weakened national security. Under the new framework, species will require individualized protection plans rather than automatic blanket protections. This shift allows corporations to seek exemptions in areas where development might otherwise be restricted. While the administration argues this approach rewards progress and encourages proactive conservation, critics and environmental groups have filed lawsuits to challenge the change. They argue that habitat loss is the primary driver of extinction and that the new rule undermines the core premise of the landmark 1973 law. The administration maintains that the change will better balance wildlife recovery with economic growth.