US News
Trump signs order initiating review of endangered status for wolves
Interior Department given 90 days to evaluate recovery of grey and Mexican wolves
The short version
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to determine within 90 days if grey and Mexican wolves should be removed from the endangered species list.[BBC News]
- The administration stated the directive aims to support the ranching sector as US livestock herds reach a 75-year low and beef demand rises.[BBC News]
- Conservationists warn that delisting threatens recovery progress, while campaigners indicate they intend to challenge any formal delisting in court.[BBC News]
Key facts
- The executive order instructs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to determine within 90 days whether grey and Mexican wolves have sufficiently recovered to warrant removal from the endangered species list.[BBC News]
- US Fish and Wildlife Service figures indicate there were 319 Mexican wolves in the wild in the US in 2025, compared to four upon reintroduction in 1998, alongside roughly 18,000 grey wolves nationwide.[BBC News]
- The order cited US livestock herds reaching a 75-year low and a 10% rise in beef demand over the past decade as grounds to assist the ranching sector.[BBC News]
- Campaigners indicated they intend to challenge any resulting Department of the Interior delisting in court, similar to a previous federal delisting attempt in 2022.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the Department of the Interior will formally propose removing protections after the 90-day review and if that decision will survive expected legal challenges.[BBC News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.