The Endangered Species Act Turns 52 Today

STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH

All of God’s Creation

Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, December 28, 2025

“Our nation has some of the greatest environmental laws in the world — but they are only as good as their enforcement. Otherwise, they are just words on paper.” –Tim Preso, Managing Attorney, Biodiversity Defense Program

“The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is the single most important shield wildlife has against extinction” (Earthjustice, 12/12/25). “To date, the act has prevented 99 percent of listed species from going extinct and has recovered or down-listed over 100 species from endangered to threatened” (Carl Safina, Sierra, Winter 2023). But now, new rules have been proposed that would significantly weaken this landmark “conservation law that’s prevented thousands of plant and animal species from disappearing, including bald eagles, gray wolves, grizzly bears, and humpback whales” (Alison Cagle, Earthjustice, 12/8/25). “This attack follows a series of other attempts this year to erode the law on behalf of polluters and extractive industries” (Earthjustice, 12/12/25).  

“The proposal would withhold critical habitat from climate-change-threatened species, allow protection decisions to consider economic impacts, remove almost all protections for newly listed ‘threatened’ species, and let special interests block habitat protection” (Center for Biological Diversity, 12/11/25). “It would give extractive industries a free pass for mining, drilling, logging and other destructive operations where vulnerable wildlife live” (Earthjustice, 12/4/25).

“Ever since the ESA became law in 1973, public support has remained high. Four out of five Americans – across political ideologies and demographics – favor the ESA.” (Rachel Nuwer, Sierra, Winter 2023) “At a time when one million species worldwide are threatened with extinction by 2050, we should be strengthening the laws and policies that protect imperiled species and their habitat, like the ESA.” Speak out against harmful changes to the Endangered Species Act’s implementation! (Defenders of Wildlife, 12/4/25)

Not only should we be enforcing the ESA to protect species already listed as endangered, but there are also species that must be added to the list. Did you know that “no matter where you are in the U.S., you're about 50% less likely to see a bumblebee than you were in 1974? (ref.) Though the threats [these critical pollinators] face are myriad (including loss of habitat, pesticide use and climate change), the fates of these beloved bumblebees are far from sealed. Environment America and its national network are actively calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to extend Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for several species of threatened bumblebees before they're lost forever.” (Lisa Frank, Environment America, 12/14/25)

“The sustainability of nature is what ultimately sustains all of us.” (Jamie Rappaport Clark, a former director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers the ESA)

Comments on this column may be directed to the Social Justice Committee at socialjustice@holycrossphl.org. Click here for column archive.