ESA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump administration announced major changes it wants to make to parts of the Endangered Species Act that it argues loosen regulations while providing the best conservation results, but environmentalists warn the suggested changes to the 45-year-old law could harm species that need protection. Among the proposed changes announced by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Thursday [7-19-18] is allowing officials to consider economic impact when enforcing the ESA. ‘We propose to remove the phrase, ‘without reference to possible economic or other impacts of such determination” the proposal states. Another suggested shift in the policy would also end the service’s practice of providing future ‘threatened’ species with the same protections as endangered species automatically. Instead, protections for future threatened species will be determined by ‘the species’ individual conservation needs.’ CNN first reported in April that the Fish and Wildlife Service was proposing a repeal of the so-called blanket rule. Critics say removing blanket protections will mire the process of protecting threatened species in years of bureaucracy.”
-Veronica Stracqualursi, “Trump administration wants to change key parts of the Endangered Species Act,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, July 20, 2018 3:48 pm