The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a series of four new rules that would dismantle several changes made under the Biden administration to strengthen the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed revisions aim to revert core regulations to the language used during Trump’s first term.

The move, announced by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, is framed as an effort to restore the ESA to its “original intent,” providing “clear, consistent, and lawful standards” that offer certainty to businesses, landowners, states, and Tribes.

Key Proposed Rule Changes

The proposals focus on introducing greater flexibility for economic factors in conservation decisions, an area that has traditionally been legally constrained under the ESA.

• Critical Habitat Decisions: The most significant change would allow regulators to include the consideration of economic impacts when designating critical habitat for threatened and endangered species. Conservation groups argue that the ESA traditionally prohibits such economic analysis from influencing these decisions.

• Economic & National Security Exclusion: The new rules seek to explicitly permit the use of economic and national security justifications to exclude specific areas from critical habitat designations.

• Species-Specific Protections: The administration plans to eliminate the “blanket rule” that applied standard protections to all threatened species. Instead, the Fish and Wildlife Service would issue conservation rules specific to each individual species listed as threatened.

Reactions to the Proposed Rollbacks

The proposals have drawn immediate and sharp criticism from conservation organizations, while receiving praise from advocates for regulatory relief.

• Opponents: Groups like Earthjustice and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) have strongly denounced the changes, claiming they will drive species closer to extinction and prioritize corporate interests over wildlife protection. They have vowed to legally challenge the rules.

• Proponents: Supporters, including some members of Congress, applaud the administration for taking action to combat perceived “ESA overreach and abuse” and providing much-needed clarity for stakeholders in regulated industries.

Impact on Fisheries and Pacific Salmon

For the seafood industry, ESA protections have historically been a significant source of friction for Pacific Northwest salmon and steelhead trout fisheries.

• Nearly 30 species of Pacific salmon and steelhead are currently listed under the ESA.

• Conservation groups continue to file lawsuits to compel NOAA Fisheries to meet deadlines for determining if additional salmon runs require protection.

• Commercial fishing groups, such as the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA), have often criticized these petitions, arguing that rushed or broad protections can negatively impact the livelihoods of commercial fishers.

Comment Period Open

The public has a 30-day window to submit comments on the proposed rules. The comment period began on November 21st, 2025. This is a critical opportunity for industry stakeholders, conservationists, and the public to weigh in on the future of the nation’s foremost wildlife protection law.