特朗普政府重新解释《濒危物种保护法》引发诉讼

特朗普政府对美国《濒危物种保护法》进行了重大重新解释，旨在削弱野生动物保护标准。1内政部鱼类和野生动物局局长布赖恩·内斯维克签署备忘录，将法案中"take"一词的定义从包括非故意杀害改为仅指"故意针对特定动物或动物的肯定行为"。1这一变化意味着商业捕鱼、伐木等可预见导致的野生动物死亡将不再受该法律约束。1内政部长道格·伯格姆为此举辩护，声称此前对该法案的解释对其进行了"武器化"。1

此举引发了法律反弹。1来自20个民主党领导州及华盛顿特区的检察长提交了诉讼，对这一改变提出质疑。1华盛顿州司法部长尼克·布朗在声明中表示，"特朗普政府试图破坏法律、国会意愿和人民意愿，而人民压倒性地支持对濒危物种的保护"。1诉讼涉及对"harm"（伤害）的重新定义、新威胁物种保护规则的移除，以及在宣布"关键栖息地"时纳入商业考量等方面。1同时，特朗普政府还宣布将犹他州两处广大受保护土地缩小超过90%，用于化石燃料开采和采矿。1

The Trump administration has initiated a significant reinterpretation of the Endangered Species Act by narrowing key legal protections for wildlife. Interior Department Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Neswick signed a memorandum that redefines "take" from including unintentional harm to animals to only intentional actions deliberately targeting specific animals, effectively exempting wildlife deaths resulting from commercial fishing, logging, and similar activities from legal protection.1

Interior Secretary Doug Bergum defended the changes by claiming previous interpretations had weaponized the ESA.1 The administration also announced plans to reduce protected land in Utah by over 90 percent to facilitate fossil fuel extraction and mining.1 Last year, the Trump administration had already signaled its intention to consider economic factors when deciding whether to protect endangered species.1

The reinterpretation has prompted legal challenges from multiple states. Twenty Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C. filed a lawsuit against the government, with Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown asserting that "the Trump administration is trying to undermine the law, congressional intent, and the will of the people, who overwhelmingly support protecting endangered species."1 The litigation addresses multiple changes, including the redefinition of "harm," removal of protections for threatened species, and the introduction of commercial considerations when designating critical habitat.1