In brief
The former president's executive order proposes delisting gray and Mexican wolves from the U.S. endangered species list, allowing ranchers more leeway to protect livestock. The move is framed as support for the livestock industry, but environmental NGOs warn it could derail decades of recovery work. While gray wolf numbers hover around 18,000 and Mexican wolves have climbed to 319 in the wild, the order gives Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to assess recovery. Critics argue that wolf attacks on livestock are rare and the order would create a political distraction. The decision comes amid rising beef prices linked to drought and disease outbreaks.
Trump signs order to remove endangered species protection for gray wolves
The former president signed an executive order that could de‑list gray wolves and the Mexican wolf from the U.S. endangered species list, a step that would allow ranchers greater latitude to protect livestock.
The order highlights the role of ranchers in the American food supply chain and U.S. cultural heritage while citing a 75‑year low in livestock herds and a 10% rise in beef demand. It does not instantly authorize killings but gives Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to determine if the populations have recovered sufficiently to qualify for delisting.
Environmental groups have sounded alarms, noting that gray wolves still occupy much of their range and that Mexican wolf recovery in 2025 reached 319 individuals, up from four in 1998. They warn the move could overturn long‑term conservation gains.
Critics also point out that wolf attacks on livestock are rare and have little economic impact. A senior conservationist said the order is a “huge distraction” that feeds “a handful of ranchers” rather than solving real policy problems.
The order arrives as Trump’s administration tries to curb soaring beef prices, which have been driven by drought and parasite outbreaks, and to loosen restrictions on beef imports. Ranchers have expressed frustration with trade policy and the pressure it places on margins.
The U.S. government once campaigned to exterminate wolves in the 19‑th century, and farmers have long hunted them. The new order could reopen that debate for the first time in modern conservation history.
