Trump signs order to remove endangered species protection for grey wolves

What the report says

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal officials to move toward removing endangered species protections for the grey wolf and the Mexican wolf, according to BBC World News. The order does not immediately allow ranchers to kill wolves that threaten livestock; instead, it gives Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to assess whether the populations have recovered enough to be taken off the endangered list.

The White House framed the move as support for ranchers, who it said play an important role in the food supply chain and in American cultural heritage. The BBC reported that the administration is also under pressure to address high beef prices, while ranchers have faced tighter margins and some restrictions linked to beef imports. The order comes against the backdrop of a long-running conflict between livestock producers and wildlife advocates over wolf recovery.

Conservation groups strongly criticised the decision, arguing that federal protection is still needed and that attacks on livestock are relatively uncommon. The BBC noted that ranchers can currently receive compensation for wolf-related losses, and some states fund non-lethal deterrence programs. Critics said weakening protections could undo decades of recovery work.

The article also provided context on wolf numbers in the US: federal figures cited 319 Mexican wolves in the wild in 2025, up from four when they were reintroduced in 1998, and roughly 18,000 grey wolves nationwide. However, they remain protected in many areas because of historic habitat loss and previous efforts to reduce their populations.