Weaken Endangered Species Act? NO! My public comment

Habitat loss is the #1 cause of extinction, globally. The US Endangered Species Act only works because it (currently) prohibits destruction of critical habitats. The Trump administration is proposing to narrow the ESA to make it NOT protect habitats. https://www.npr.org/2025/04/17/nx-s1-5366814/endangered-species-act-change-harm-trump-rule We have 30 days left to comment and protest to stop this. Instructions for how to comment, and the text of my comment, are included below.

To comment go to www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0034, which is the docket number for this rulemaking.

My comment:

Dear Rule Makers,

Please do not rescind the definition of harm under the Endangered Species Act to preempt habitat protection.

Habitat loss is the leading cause of species extinction in the US and globally, and worsens the impact of other threats to species such as overexploitation and pollution [1]. Our Endangered Species Act is currently effective principally because it prohibits destruction of habitats critical to the survival of listed species. The proposed rule change, narrowing the definition of harm to exclude habitat destruction, would inevitably result in a cascade of habitat loss and extinctions. This would permanently diminish our nation's unique natural beauty and biological wealth [2].

I strongly encourage you to reject this proposed rule change and affirm the value of habitat and species protection for our national well-being.

Thank you,

James G. Douglass, PhD
Professor of Marine Science
The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University


References cited:

[1] Brook, B. W., Sodhi, N. S., & Bradshaw, C. J. (2008). Synergies among extinction drivers under global change. Trends in ecology & evolution, 23(8), 453-460.

[2] Cardinale, B. J., Duffy, J. E., Gonzalez, A., Hooper, D. U., Perrings, C., Venail, P., ... & Naeem, S. (2012). Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity. Nature, 486(7401), 59-67.