{"id":95114,"date":"2025-02-18T07:12:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T07:12:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/activist\/a-recipe-for-extinction-can-the-uss-envied-nature-protections-survive-trump-and-his-god-squad-environment\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T07:12:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T07:12:31","slug":"a-recipe-for-extinction-can-the-uss-envied-nature-protections-survive-trump-and-his-god-squad-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=95114","title":{"rendered":"A \u2018recipe for extinction\u2019: can the US\u2019s envied nature protections survive Trump and his \u2018God squad\u2019? | Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Donald Trump has already begun dismantling parts of the envied US endangered species protections in his quest to boost oil and gas drilling, in part using a panel with an ominous name: the God squad.<\/p>\n

A slew of early actions by the Trump administration has set about throwing open more land and waters for the fossil fuel industry, triggering the reversal of regulations that strengthen the Endangered Species Act, the country\u2019s landmark 1973 conservation bill<\/a>, including a rule that protects migratory birds from unintentional killing.<\/p>\n

The department of interior has been tasked with allowing all previously refused drilling leases, including in the Alaskan Arctic, and with drawing up plans to \u201creview and, as appropriate, revise all withdrawn public lands\u201d. This could shrink wildlife refuges and national monuments<\/a>, which are protected lands designated by the president. Trump slashed the size of two vast national monuments in Utah when last in office.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for the department of the interior,\u201d said Doug Burgum, interior secretary, at the unveiling of the seven-page directive<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are committed to working collaboratively to unlock America\u2019s full potential in energy dominance and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while showing the world the power of America\u2019s natural resources and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n

But critics argue that endangered species will be steamrolled under this agenda, and the Endangered Species Act imperilled. The legislation has helped safeguard more than 1,700 species and their habitats, preventing 99%<\/a> of those listed from going extinct, most famously the bald eagle.<\/p>\n

<\/svg><\/span>The Sacramento River in the north delta, California. Trump has attacked California\u2019s water policies, including protections for the delta smelt.<\/span> Photograph: Mette Lampcov\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, a lack of resources has stymied many listed species from a full recovery and opponents of the act claim that it has unduly blocked economic development. Trump recently railed against protections afforded to the delta smelt<\/a>, a small, unassuming creature in California that the president called an \u201cessentially worthless fish\u201d.<\/p>\n

The last Trump administration demanded economic considerations be weighed when deciding upon endangered species listings, contrary to the text of the act. It listed just 25 species for protection during its first term, the lowest of any administration, and refused petitions to protect species such as wolverines and hellbender salamanders.<\/p>\n

\u201cBurgum and Trump are strapping dynamite to basic rules that protect our natural world,\u201d says Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity.<\/p>\n