1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

The proposed ESA Amendments Act of 2025 contains concerning provisions that would significantly weaken protections for imperiled species and undermine the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act. The prioritization scheme would allow species in dire need of protection to languish for years while prioritizing those with greater economic conflicts. Opening the door for states and private landowners to substitute their own inadequate conservation plans sets a dangerous precedent of circumventing science-based federal safeguards. Furthermore, limiting designations of critical habitat on private lands and empowering agencies to easily disregard reasonable protections for listed species poses an unacceptable risk to vulnerable wildlife. This overhaul disregards the Act's fundamental purpose of preventing extinction and preserving our nation's biodiversity. I urge you to reject this misguided legislation that sacrifices endangered species for short-term economic interests at the expense of our natural heritage.