Trump administration moves to strip endangered species protections from grey wolves

The Trump administration has signed an executive order eliminating endangered species protections for grey wolves, marking a significant shift in federal wildlife policy. The decision prioritizes the interests of ranchers and farmers who have long sought relief from restrictions on wolf management on their lands.

Official statements accompanying the order emphasize economic benefits to agricultural communities, particularly in western states where livestock predation has been a persistent concern. The administration argues the move will grant greater flexibility to state wildlife agencies and landowners in managing wolf populations on their property.

Conservation groups have strongly opposed the action, contending that grey wolves remain vulnerable and that the protections were essential to sustaining recent population recovery. Environmental organizations warn that removing federal oversight could enable unregulated culling that threatens the ecological balance and viability of wolf populations still rebuilding from near-extinction.

The order represents one of the most significant reversals in endangered species policy in recent years. Wildlife experts note that grey wolves, once hunted to near-elimination across the continental United States, have made a gradual comeback in certain regions, particularly in the Northern Rockies and Southwest, though populations remain fragmented and far below historical levels.