Trump's Sept. 4, 2025 order gives Interior three months to decide whether gray wolves should lose federal protections or get weaker ones.
Why it matters: The review could shift more control over wolf management to states and change how ranchers are compensated for livestock losses. It also could trigger another legal fight over Endangered Species Act protections.
- The Sept. 4, 2025 executive order tells Interior to decide within three months whether gray wolves or Mexican wolves qualify for delisting or weaker protections.
- The White House says Interior Secretary Doug Burgum must determine whether the species should be removed from the endangered list or whether their protections should be reduced.
- The order also directs Interior to prepare legislative recommendations for delisting gray wolves and Mexican wolves and to work with states on state-level delisting.
- Interior and Agriculture were told to update compensation standards for ranchers who lose livestock to predators and to make lethal-removal authorization easier when needed.
President Trump signed the executive order on Sept. 4, 2025, reopening a long-running fight over gray wolf protections and state wildlife authority.
According to the White House fact sheet, Interior has three months to decide whether gray wolves or Mexican wolves meet the criteria for delisting or for weaker protections under the Endangered Species Act. If the department finds that standard is met, it is to begin the process.
The order also directs Interior to prepare legislative recommendations for delisting gray wolves and Mexican wolves and to work with states to encourage state-level delisting. It tells Interior and Agriculture to update compensation standards for ranchers who lose livestock to predators and to make lethal-removal authorization easier when needed.
The Fish and Wildlife Service says gray wolves in the contiguous 48 states and Mexico are protected as threatened in Minnesota and endangered in the remaining states, except for the Northern Rocky Mountain population. A separate Nov. 3, 2023 Fish and Wildlife Service rule reinstated ESA protections after a court order vacated the Nov. 3, 2020 delisting rule.
Mexican wolves remain separately listed as endangered.
By the numbers
- 3 months - Interior's deadline to decide whether wolves qualify for delisting or weaker protections.
- Sept. 4, 2025 - The date Trump signed the executive order.
- Nov. 3, 2023 - Date the Fish and Wildlife Service reinstated ESA protections after a prior delisting rule was vacated.
What's next: Interior must complete its review within three months of the Sept. 4, 2025 order.