States Sue Over Endangered Species Rollback | Yakima News

Yakima News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Sep 10, 2026 · 1m

Twenty states and Washington, D.C. are launching legal action against the Trump administration over sweeping changes to the Endangered Species Act, arguing the revisions illegally narrow protections for vulnerable wildlife. The new rules redefine “harm” to exclude habitat disruption unless it directly kills or injures animals — a shift that could pave the way for oil drilling and mining in critical habitats. While officials claim the changes restore the law’s original intent and boost economic competitiveness, critics call it an assault on conservation and public trust. The overhaul also…