October 12, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Justice has asked federal judges to quickly rule against four lawsuits challenging the federal government’s decision to rescind the definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), removing consideration of the habitat threatened animals need to survive in establishing protections.
“Regulatory overreach burdens American families and businesses, and these now-rescinded Endangered Species Act regulations are a prime example,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) said in a release. “The Department of Justice will continue vigorously defending President Trump’s efforts to uphold the Act as written and protect economic growth.”