The government led by Republican Donald Trump in the United States is taking steps to reverse the protection of endangered species and their habitats in an attempt to advance its energy agenda under the slogan “drill, baby, drill” (oil and gas drilling).
A directive signed on Monday night by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum gives agencies 15 days to submit plans to unleash American energy, which critics argue would weaken the Endangered Species Act and open up fragile landscapes to such activities from the Arctic to the Grand Canyon and even national monuments for exploitation.
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for the Department of the Interior,” said Burgum, whose close ties to the fossil fuel industry have drawn strong criticism from environmentalists during his confirmation hearings.
“We are committed to working collaboratively to roll back species protections and unlock America’s full energy potential and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while at the same time demonstrating to the world the power of America’s natural resources and innovation,” the official stated.
The order aims to reverse drilling bans in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and coastal waters, restrictions imposed by the previous president, Democrat Joe Biden.
It also seeks to repeal a rule that reinstated long-standing protections for birds against unintentional but preventable deaths caused by oil spills, mining impacts, and collisions with buildings.
Groups warn that the measure would accelerate the decline of various animal and plant species.
“While endangered species are declining and disappearing across the United States, this order will fan the flames of the extinction crisis,” said Noah Greenwald, an expert from the Center for Biological Diversity.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is credited with the rescue of iconic species such as the gray wolf, bald eagle, and grizzly bear.
But during Trump’s first term (2017-2021), key environmental provisions were weakened, allowing economic considerations to influence decisions on species protection. Biden later reversed those changes, and now Trump is pushing to reinstate the previous regulations.
Greenwald told AFP that species like the greater sage-grouse, lesser prairie-chicken, and sagebrush lizard, whose habitats overlap with the Permian Basin, the country’s top oil-producing region, would be at greater risk.
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