News Summary September 21, 2026
Today's Top Story: Despite Court Rulings, Trump Administration Moves to Gut Core Protections for Endangered Species
The Trump administration finalized a rule in July rescinding the longstanding definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act, and a Sept. 14 directive from Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik now clarifies that only actions specifically intended to target an animal — not incidental deaths from activities like fishing, logging or construction — would be considered illegal "takes." The move comes despite a federal court ruling last March that struck down earlier Trump-era ESA rollbacks, and critics including Oceana and the Center for Biological Diversity warn the reinterpretation removes core safeguards protecting species like North Atlantic right whales, sea turtles and Pacific salmon from federally permitted activities such as commercial fishing and oil and gas drilling...
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