Key facts
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday.
- The order directs the Interior Department to consider delisting gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act.
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has three months to make a determination on de-listing.
- A 2022 federal court order currently protects wolves across most of the lower 48 states.
- The order also directs federal authorities to encourage states to remove protections and ease restrictions on wolf killing.
- Environmental groups have strongly criticized the order.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday directing the Interior Department to consider delisting gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act and to explore ways to make it easier to authorize their killing. The order gives Interior Secretary Doug Burgum three months to determine whether gray wolves and Mexican gray wolves have recovered sufficiently for federal de-listing.
However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has previously attempted to delist the gray wolf, a move currently subject to litigation. A 2022 federal court order maintains ESA protections for wolves in most of the lower 48 states, with exceptions in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming where states manage wolf populations. In Minnesota, wolves are classified as 'threatened'.
The Mexican gray wolf, a rare subspecies reintroduced in 1998, faces threats from low genetic diversity, according to Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity. He stated that premature de-listing would likely face challenges from environmental groups.
Trump's order also urges federal authorities to pressure states into removing protections and loosening restrictions on wolf killing. Environmental groups, including WildEarth Guardians, criticized the administration's move, calling it an attempt to override environmental laws for industry benefits and bypass established recovery frameworks.
Historically, wolves were systematically trapped and killed in the U.S. to protect livestock. Ranchers continue to view wolves as a threat to their livelihoods. Trump's order is part of broader measures aimed at supporting ranchers and American beef production. During the signing ceremony, Trump questioned whether wolves could be shot immediately, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins suggesting some 'magic' would be needed.