Judge Tosses Endangered Species Rules Limiting Critical Habitat

Four federal regulations from the first Trump administration thought to weaken endangered species protections are illegal, a federal judge ruled Monday in a win for environmental groups.

Judge Jon S. Tigar of the US District Court for the Northern District of California vacated the regulations and reinstated rules that were in place prior to when they were finalized in 2019 and 2024. Tigar let two other regulations challenged in the lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club, and WildEarth Guardians, to remain in place.

“Extinction is forever, and today’s ruling strikes down regulations that deprived vulnerable ...