Attorney General Kwame Raoul has joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general to oppose four proposed rules by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service that would revise key regulations under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973.
The coalition argues that these regulatory changes would significantly weaken protections for endangered species and their habitats nationwide. The proposals would reinstate many of the same regulations introduced during the first Trump administration, which were previously challenged in court and partially reversed by the Biden administration.
“Once again, the Trump administration is attempting to undue all of the progress we have made over the past 50 years protecting species on the brink of extinction,” Raoul said. “I will continue to partner with my fellow attorneys general in urging this administration not to weaken the vital protections contained in the Endangered Species Act.”
The ESA, enacted in 1973, is considered a cornerstone of environmental protection in the United States. It has provided safeguards for numerous threatened species such as the bald eagle, grizzly bear, and humpback whale. The Supreme Court has described its purpose as “to halt and reverse the trend toward species extinction, whatever the cost.” According to Raoul’s office, weakening these protections could increase risks for vulnerable species and their habitats.
Illinois officials warn that if federal enforcement is reduced, states like Illinois may need to allocate more resources to compensate for gaps in protection. This could divert attention from state-level conservation programs and raise costs for state agencies.
In their letter opposing the proposed changes, Raoul and his counterparts highlight several concerns: lowering chances for at-risk species to be listed as endangered or threatened; reducing designations of critical habitat; limiting required consultations between federal wildlife agencies; and repealing regulations that protect threatened species from harm caused by human activities.
Attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin also signed onto the letter.