How redefining one word strips the Endangered Species Act’s ability to protect vital habitat

The majority of endangered species listings over the years have involved habitat loss, from Chinook salmon to island foxes and many birds.

By: Mariah Meek, Michigan State University and Karrigan Börk, University of California, Davis, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 11, 2026

Words: 1,113

Last Updated: 1 week, 3 days ago

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By Mariah Meek, Michigan State University and Karrigan Börk, University of California, Davis

It wouldn’t make much sense to prohibit people from shooting a threatened woodpecker while allowing its forest to be cut down, or to bar killing endangered salmon while allowing a dam to dry out their habitat.

But that’s what the Trump administration is doing by changing how one word in the Endangered Species Act is interpreted: harm.

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