The Trump administration has announced significant rollbacks of the Endangered Species Act, eliminating automatic protections for imperiled animals and allowing for habitat destruction through activities like drilling and mining. Critics, including environmental groups and tribes, warn that these changes could push already threatened species closer to extinction. Legal challenges have arisen in response to the new rules, which redefine key terms in the act, limiting its effectiveness in safeguarding vital habitats. With multiple lawsuits filed, advocates are fighting to maintain crucial wildlife protections that have been in place for decades.