Grizzly Bears Become Trump’s Latest Target in All-Out Assault on the Endangered Species Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Trump administration is proposing more regulatory changes aimed at weakening Endangered Species Act protections for grizzly bears. The proposed changes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would revise the protective regulations under ESA section 4(d) for grizzlies in the Lower 48, which establish the circumstances under which killing, injury, and harassment of grizzlies are allowed. The Service proposes new mechanisms to lift restrictions on the killing of grizzlies through "Memoranda of Understanding" and "Technical Letters of Assistance."

The move is the latest in the Trump administration's broader campaign to weaken protections for imperiled wildlife, dismantle environmental safeguards, and open more public lands to industrial exploitation at the expense of native species and the ecosystems they depend on.

In response, Ben Greuel, Sierra Club's Wildlife Campaign Manager, released the following statement:

"The Endangered Species Act has long provided an essential framework for conserving grizzly bears, but once again, the Trump administration is putting politics and special interests ahead of science to undermine the federal safeguards these iconic animals depend on. Sierra Club is carefully reviewing the administration's proposal and will continue working with our partners to ensure grizzly bears receive the protections they need."

The Fish and Wildlife Service is holding a 30-day public comment period on the proposed changes.

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.