Supporting Strong Endangered Species Act Protections
The National Aquarium urges public comments on proposed ESA changes that would put wildlife and habitats at risk.
Statement
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a key environmental law that has protected thousands of plants, animals, and their habitats for more than fifty years. It has helped hundreds of species recover in the United States and around the world. As such, most Americans are in favor of strong ESA protections. Aquariums and zoos support the ESA by doing research, educating the public, and working to save threatened species and their habitats.
Recently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed four federal regulation changes that weaken ESA protections. These changes are open for public comments through Friday, December 22, 2025.
How To Submit a Public Comment on ESA Rule Changes
A federal regulatory comment period is a set time when the public can give feedback on a proposed rule or change. Your voice matters in speaking up for laws and regulations that help save endangered species! Here is a quick guide to submitting public comments.
Step 1: Navigate to the Rule Change Page
First, go to the specific page for the proposed rule change you would like to comment on — designating critical habitat, listing endangered and threatened species, threatened species 'blanket rule', or interagency consultation and compliance.
Step 2: Complete the Comment Form
After selecting a rule change, click the "Comment" button. This will open a form to type your comments. It is best to briefly state why you care about the ESA. If possible, highlight threatened or endangered animals and plants in your state that matter to you. Explain why it is important to protect them.
Comments should be tailored to the change they are addressing. Try using these sample comments as a starting point:
This proposed change would make it easier to put economic interests ahead of the best scientific information when judging how to protect species and their habitats. A comment could look like:
I am concerned this change would lead to more habitat loss, which is the main driver of species extinction. Critical habitat designation decisions should prioritize science over economic considerations, and I urge you to withdraw this proposal.
This proposed change would limit how we consider long-term and combined threats to species and ecosystems. This could lead to more damage to crucial habitats and see species removed from protected lists too soon. A comment could look like:
This change would weaken species listing criteria by limiting use of the best scientific data available, which is the opposite of the intent of the ESA. I urge you to withdraw this proposal.
This proposed change would weaken automatic protections for threatened species and could cause more species to become endangered. A comment could look like:
This change would delay or reduce protections for threatened species and make them more vulnerable to extinction, not less. I urge you to withdraw this proposal.
This proposed change would weaken requirements for federal agency coordination and cooperation. A comment could look like:
I urge you to maintain existing requirements for federal agencies to cooperate to make informed decisions and limit harm to threatened and endangered species.
Step 3: Submit
Once you've written your comment, you may choose to provide your email address. Comments can also be anonymous. Select "Individual" or "Anonymous," and confirm you are not a robot. Finally, click "Submit Comment."