Action alert!
The ESA is a cornerstone of U.S. environmental policy, seeking to prevent extinction and recover species. Since its signing by President Nixon in 1973, the ESA has had bipartisan support, helping numerous endangered species recover. Many of the animals in human care at zoos and aquariums across the U.S. have benefitted from the ESA. Maintaining this policy is critical for ongoing recovery and conservation efforts.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published four new rulemakings, proposing changes to crucial definitions and processes within the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Each of these proposed rulemakings are open for a 30-day comment period and you can help by submitting a comment. The last proposed change to the ESA received over 400,000 comments from individuals and organizations across the country! You can use the tips and sample scripts below to help craft your comment(s) and then submit them via these four links (one for each proposed rulemaking):
- Listing Endangered and Threatened Species (FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0039): This proposed rulemaking removes species recovery as a reason for delisting, likely making it easier for politically driven delistings. It also adds new criteria to delist a species, such as not meeting the definition of a species, endangered species or threatened species.
- Interagency Co-operation Regulations (FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0044): Allows for “non-prudent” findings in designating critical habitat if impacts are out of the control of agency action.
- Regulations for Designating Critical Habitat (FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0048): Removes requirements for federal agencies to offset or mitigate impacts to habitats and species when actions are unavoidable. It also limits how indirect, secondary or cumulative effects of federal projects can be considered when reviewing/approving projects that could impact a listed species.
- Threatened Species Blanket Rule (FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0029): Removes the “blanket rule,” resulting in fewer protections to species listed as threatened.
How to make your voice heard
You can help protect the ESA by contacting your federal legislators and urging them to protect and strengthen it.
Don’t know where to start? We got you covered. Follow the simple steps below to contact your officials.
Find your representative and your senators.
Note: We recommend you contact all your federal legislators. An effort to weaken the ESA could begin in either chamber of Congress. Your outreach will assure both representatives and senators that their constituents want to protect it.
Prepare what you want to say.
Whether you’re reaching out to your legislators directly or submitting a comment, prepare what you want to say. Be sure to include:
- Your name and where you’re from. If you’re contacting a legislator, make sure to let them know you live in their district.
- Why you care about the ESA (species you care about, protecting our natural environment, etc.)
- Clearly state what you’re asking:
- When submitting a comment on the above proposed rulemakings: withdraw this proposed rule.
- When contacting a legislator: oppose any attempts through legislation, appropriations or other means to weaken or dismantle the ESA.
Here are general templates you can use for an email or a phone call:
- Email script
Dear [representative/senator’s name],
I am [your name] and I live in your district in [state]. I am writing to express my strong support for the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and urge you to oppose any attempts to weaken and dismantle it.
The ESA is important to me because I love [list a species/multiple species or a reason you care about the ESA]. These incredible animals [list some of the unique/cool things about them]. The ESA, with bipartisan support for 50 years, helps protect [species] through conservation efforts and research. Protecting the ESA helps protect iconic American species and our shared natural heritage.
Again, I urge you to oppose any attempts to weaken or dismantle the ESA. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
- Phone script
Hello! I’m calling for [representative/senator’s name].
I am [your name] and I live in your district in [state]. I am calling to express my strong support for the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and urge you to oppose any attempts to weaken and dismantle it.
The ESA is important to me because I love [list a species/multiple species or a reason you care about the ESA]. These incredible animals [list some of the unique/cool things about them]. The ESA, with bipartisan support for 50 years, helps protect [species] through conservation efforts and research. Protecting the ESA helps protect iconic American species and our shared natural heritage.
Again, I urge you to oppose any attempts to weaken or dismantle the ESA. Thank you.
Contact your representatives.
Once you have your message or script composed, email or call your legislators’ offices.
A few things to remember…
- Legislators are just people, too! While it can feel scary or intimidating to contact your elected officials, you have every right to do so. And…
- They want to hear from you! Their job is to understand and represent their constituents (people like you who live in their districts). Communicating what’s important to you helps them be better advocates for the communities they represent.
- If you’re calling, it’s okay to make a mistake or fumble your words. You don’t have to be interview-ready. Take a breath, take your time and remind yourself you can do this—for yourself and for the animals you care about!
- The most important thing is to be respectful but direct. Whether you’re making contact by email or phone, you want to convey a calm, respectful message that they’ll hear, understand and act on.
