Trump administration opens endangered species’ habitats to development

The Trump administration finalized a rule altering the Endangered Species Act's enforcement, removing protections against habitat destruction for imperiled wildlife. The change narrows the definition of 'harm' to exclude habitat encroachments, allowing activities like oil drilling and logging in critical wildlife habitats as long as animals are not directly killed or injured. Environmentalists warn this could accelerate species extinction, while industry groups and Republican allies argue it promotes economic growth.