Press Releases

U.S. Representative Don Beyer (VA-08), Co-Chair of the Endangered Species Caucus, released the following statement today after the Trump administration finalized regulations to significantly weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA):

“We are in the middle of a global wave of mass extinction and history will judge us for how we treat those with whom we share this planet. Despite the major successes of the ESA, iconic species are facing increasingly daunting threats to survival. We have a moral responsibility – both to wildlife and our fellow humans – to do everything in our power to preserve biodiversity and protect imperiled species.

“This latest step by the Trump administration to gut protections for endangered species and public lands is abhorrent. It is the polar opposite of what we should be doing. Yet again, the White House is taking its orders from industry executives of special interests, who are the only ones this action will help. We should be strengthening and investing in the ESA, not ripping it apart. I and my colleagues in Congress will do all we can to fight this.”