"Endangered Species Act Faces Existential Threat After 50 Years of Conservation Efforts"
The Endangered Species Act, which has protected and preserved over 99% of the listed species for the past 50 years, is facing potential peril as conservative administrations and lawmakers seek to weaken it, arguing that it hampers property rights and economic growth. Environmentalists accuse regulators of slow-walking new listings and claim that insufficient funding is hindering the act's mission. Rebuilding bipartisan support is seen as crucial for the law's survival, but in a polarized political climate, this may prove challenging. The recent nullification of the endangered designation for the northern long-eared bat by the Senate raises concerns about the act's future effectiveness.