Trump Order Gives Interior Department Three Months to Consider Removing Gray Wolves from Endangered List

Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday directing the U.S. Interior Department to evaluate whether gray wolves and Mexican gray wolves can be removed from the Endangered Species Act. The order instructs the department to consider de‑listing the species and to explore whether it could make it easier to authorize lethal control of wolves. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has been given a three‑month window to assess the recovery status of the wolves and determine if the federal government can remove them from the endangered species list.

The directive follows a long‑standing debate over wolf management and conservation. Under the Endangered Species Act, species are protected until they are deemed sufficiently recovered, but the Trump administration has expressed a desire to reduce federal oversight and allow more state‑level control over wolf populations. The order’s emphasis on potential lethal authorization reflects a shift toward prioritizing human interests and land‑use concerns in areas where wolves have been reintroduced.

By the end of the three‑month period, Interior Secretary Burgum will report whether the gray wolf and Mexican gray wolf populations have met the criteria for de‑listing. The decision will determine whether federal protections remain in place or if the species can be managed under state and local regulations, potentially opening the door to increased hunting and removal efforts.