Over the next few weeks, Congress will consider various spending bills, including the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (the Endangered Species Act is managed by the Department of Interior).
The House bill, H.R. 4754, contains many harmful riders that would weaken and undermine the Endangered Species Act (ESA). One rider, Section 128, would remove protections for gray wolves:
Section 128 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to delist the gray wolf in 44 states. Gray wolf populations in the United States were decimated by decades of predator control programs, as well as loss of habitat and prey. Since receiving protection under the ESA in 1974, the gray wolf has made a comeback but remains far from recovered.
Take Action Today!
The ESA is our nation’s most effective law for preventing extinction and protecting imperiled wildlife. As a science-based law, the future of the ESA should not be decided at the hands of Congress. To take action, fill in the action alert below.
Please email your Senators and Representatives today and ask them to protect endangered species, including wolves, by ensuring that no anti-ESA riders are included in the final appropriations bills. Feel free to adjust the message to reflect your own research and passion about the issue.
Your voice and action can affect the vote of your representatives. Thank you for speaking up for wolves and endangered species!
Oppose Anti-Wildlife Riders in Final FY2026 Interior Appropriations Bill
Dear [Decision Maker],
I urge you to oppose any riders attached to funding bills that would weaken and undermine the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA is a landmark piece of legislation that institutionalized our national commitment to conservation and the protection of imperiled fish, plants and wildlife and the places they call home. A recent survey found that support for the ESA has remained consistently high over the last three decades, at about 84%, and support is consistent among people living in urban, suburban, and rural environments.
Sincerely,[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP][Your Email]