Attorneys general from 20 states and Washington, D.C. have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, accusing it of weakening endangered species protections in violation of U.S. law.
On 9 September 2026, attorneys general from 20 U.S. states, led by Democrats, along with Washington, D.C., filed two lawsuits against President Donald Trump's administration. They accused the government of rolling back protections for endangered animals and plants, potentially allowing companies easier access to develop fragile habitats of these species. The lawsuits came less than two months after the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Commerce announced new regulations that could allow companies greater access to habitats of endangered species.
Nick Brown, Attorney General of Washington State, said the Trump administration is attempting to undermine the law, the intent of Congress, and the will of the majority who support endangered species protections. He criticized the government for focusing on exploiting land and water resources rather than conserving them.
Reports indicate that one of the lawsuits challenges the administration’s narrower, unlawful interpretation of the term “harm” in the 1973 Endangered Species Act, a key law designed to protect species at risk of extinction.
Previously, under this law, “harm” included threats to the habitats of these animals and plants. However, the suing states argue that the new Trump regulations represent a significant change that could allow mining or oil drilling in sensitive habitats as long as the activities are not intended to directly and intentionally harm a particular species. Several environmental groups have also filed lawsuits opposing this regulatory change.
The second lawsuit, filed on 9 September, opposes two new rules: one that eliminates broad protections for species newly listed as threatened, unless the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues species-specific regulations.
Source: Aljazeera