• The Trump administration is asking a Texas court to end federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken.
• Officials argue the Fish and Wildlife Service made an error in placing the bird on the endangered species list.
• This action aligns with President Trump's agenda to weaken environmental regulations and promote agriculture and energy development.

The Trump administration has initiated a legal challenge in a Texas court to reverse the endangered species listing of the lesser prairie chicken. This bird, a grouse native to southern and central grasslands, has faced significant population decline due to habitat loss from agriculture and energy development. The administration's move is part of a broader effort to roll back environmental regulations that it views as burdensome to industry.

• What: The Trump administration is attempting to end federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken by challenging its endangered species listing in court.
• Who: The Trump administration, the Fish and Wildlife Service, Anna Kelly (White House spokeswoman), and potentially ranchers and energy developers.
• When: The court filing was submitted on Wednesday. The Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to re-evaluate the bird's status by Nov. 30, 2026.
• Where: United States District Court for the Western District of Texas; southern and central grasslands of the US.

This action signifies a continuation of the Trump administration's policy of prioritizing economic development, particularly in agriculture and energy, over environmental conservation. The effort to remove protections for the lesser prairie chicken raises concerns about the long-term survival of the species, given its already diminished population and the ongoing threats to its habitat. The outcome of the legal challenge will likely have significant implications for the bird's future and for environmental regulations more broadly.

President Trump will always fight to end burdensome regulations on America’s agriculture industry, especially as many ranchers participate in voluntary protections of the lesser prairie chicken’s habitat.

The Trump administration's challenge to the endangered species listing of the lesser prairie chicken highlights the ongoing tension between economic development and environmental protection. The future of the species hinges on the outcome of the legal challenge and the subsequent re-evaluation by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The case underscores the vulnerability of species facing habitat loss and the importance of federal protections in ensuring their survival.