Trust the Science Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior to remove protections for the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Specifically, the bill requires Interior to reissue the final rule titled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and published on November 3, 2020. The rule removed the gray wolf in the lower 48 United States, except for the Mexican wolf (C. l. baileyi) subspecies, from the endangered and threatened species list. However, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacated the rule on February 10, 2022. As a result, the gray wolf reattained the protection status it had prior to the rule's promulgation. The bill also prohibits the reissuance of the rule from being subject to judicial review.
If passed, HB 130 would effectively modify federal regulations concerning wildlife protection, specifically targeting the status of the gray wolf. By removing this protection, the bill could allow for greater state control over wolf populations, potentially impacting hunting regulations and conservation efforts. This change may be perceived as a significant alteration in federal wildlife policy, shifting away from protection towards more localized management strategies, which proponents argue could lead to better control of wolf populations in regions where they are deemed overpopulated.
House Bill 130, known as the 'Trust the Science Act', seeks to compel the Secretary of the Interior to reissue regulations that would remove the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The bill pushes for the reissuance of a previous rule established in 2020, reflecting an ongoing debate regarding the management and conservation status of the gray wolf in North America. Advocates for the bill argue that the removal is essential for effective wildlife management and recognizes the species' recovery in certain areas.
The proposed legislation raises notable concerns among environmental groups and other stakeholders who fear that the removal of the gray wolf's endangered status may lead to detrimental effects on ecosystems where these predators play a crucial role. Additionally, the bill includes a clause that prevents any judicial review of the reissuance of the final rule, which has sparked further debate about accountability and the role of scientific evidence in policymaking. Critics argue that such a measure undermines the checks and balances typically associated with federal regulatory changes and may set a concerning precedent for future wildlife management legislation.