Trump signs order allowing ranchers to kill wolves

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that directs the Interior Department to review whether the gray wolf should lose its endangered‑species status and allows ranchers to kill the animals if necessary. The order is part of a broader effort to curb livestock losses that have pushed beef prices higher and to restore profitability for ranchers in the Midwest and West.

The gray wolf was listed as endangered in 1978 after a dramatic decline caused by hunting, trapping and habitat loss. In recent years, the species has rebounded in many western states, but wolf‑herd conflicts have surged as wolves move into new territories. Ranchers in states such as Montana, Wyoming and Oregon have reported increasing wolf predation on cattle, leading to significant economic losses. The Trump administration has long promoted a “wildlife‑livestock balance” that favors ranchers, and the order follows a 2022 policy that lifted protection for the gray wolf in Montana and Idaho. Conservation groups argue that the order threatens the species’ recovery and could set a precedent for weakening other protections.

The order requires the Interior and Agriculture Departments to conduct a rapid assessment, with a deadline of 90 days, to determine whether the wolf’s endangered status should be revoked. If the assessment finds that the species is no longer at risk, the agencies will work to remove the protections and issue permits for ranchers to kill wolves. The order also mandates that ranchers receive compensation for livestock losses and that the departments facilitate the removal of wolves from private property. The American Farm Bureau and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed the move, citing decades of wolf‑herd conflict. In contrast, the Humane Society of the United States and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have issued statements warning that the order could undermine the 1973 Endangered Species Act and spark legal challenges.

If the assessment concludes that the gray wolf remains endangered, the order will be rescinded and the species will retain protection. However, the Interior Department’s decision could trigger lawsuits from conservation groups that argue the executive order violates the Endangered Species Act’s protections. The outcome will also influence future wildlife‑livestock policy, as other species such as the elk and the black bear face similar conflicts. The next few months will be watched closely by ranchers, conservationists, and lawmakers as the administration balances economic interests against wildlife preservation.