US President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the removal of endangered species status for grey wolves and Mexican wolves. The action is intended to provide pastoral farmers greater ability to eliminate wolves that threaten livestock, with the executive order emphasizing ranchers’ importance to food production and American cultural heritage.
The order does not immediately authorize ranching operations to shoot wolves but instead directs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to assess within 90 days whether the two wolf populations have recovered sufficiently to be delisted from endangered species protections. The directive noted that US livestock herds have declined to 75-year lows while beef demand has increased 10% over the past decade, stating additional support for the ranching industry is warranted.
Current population figures indicate approximately 18,000 grey wolves exist across the US, though they remain classified as endangered due to substantial habitat destruction. Mexican wolves numbered 319 in the wild in 2025, representing growth from just four animals when reintroduction began in 1998 according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Conservation advocates have strongly opposed the action, citing studies suggesting wolf attacks on livestock are uncommon and have minimal financial impact on ranching operations. They note that ranchers currently receive up to 100% compensation for livestock losses attributed to wolves through state-funded programs, and that the order threatens decades of recovery work. A previous federal delisting attempt in 2022 became subject to legal challenges, with environmental organizations indicating they may pursue similar litigation if the Department of Interior proceeds with implementation.
The executive order aligns with broader Trump administration efforts to address elevated beef prices, which have been elevated by drought and livestock disease outbreaks. Ranchers have expressed frustration with separate administration policies loosening beef import restrictions, which they view as pressuring already constrained profit margins.
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