The Trump administration took a significant step Friday to reshape how the federal government protects endangered and threatened wildlife, finalizing a new rule that alters enforcement of the Endangered Species Act.
At the center of the change is a narrowed definition of the word “harm” as it applies under the long-standing law, which has served as a cornerstone of wildlife conservation efforts in the United States.
Federal agencies will now operate under this revised interpretation as they carry out their responsibilities under the Act.
