Attorneys general from 20 US states and Washington, DC, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging it illegally rolled back endangered species protections for grey wolves and Mexican wolves following President Donald Trump's executive order last week.
The lawsuit, announced on September 10, 2026, challenges the White House's directive to remove the grey wolf and the Mexican wolf subspecies from the federal endangered species list. The legal action comes days after Trump signed an executive order on September 5, which gave Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to determine whether the populations had recovered enough to warrant delisting.
The executive order cited the need to support ranchers, whom the administration described as playing a "vital role" in the food supply chain and American cultural heritage. It noted that US livestock herds were at a 75-year low while demand for beef had risen by 10% in the past decade, adding that "more can and should be done to support this critical industry."
However, conservation groups have warned the move could derail decades of recovery efforts. There were 319 Mexican wolves in the wild in the US in 2025, up from just four when they were reintroduced in 1998, according to US Fish and Wildlife Service figures. Roughly 18,000 grey wolves exist across the US, though they remain considered endangered as most of their habitat has been destroyed by humans.
An earlier attempt to delist the grey wolf at the federal level in 2022 became tied up in litigation. Some campaigners have indicated they intend to sue again if the Department of the Interior acts on Trump's order.
The executive order does not give ranchers immediate authority to shoot wolves preying on livestock, but instead requires Secretary Burgum to conduct a population review within 90 days. Environmental groups have pointed to studies suggesting wolf attacks on livestock are rare and have little impact on ranchers' income. Greta Anderson, deputy director of a conservation group, called the order "a huge distraction to placate a handful of ranchers and make them believe that wolves are a greater threat than President Trump's own policies."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The lawsuit could determine the fate of two wolf populations that have been the focus of contentious recovery efforts for decades.
- The case tests the legal boundaries of executive power to override the Endangered Species Act, which is among the strongest environmental laws in the US.
- The outcome has implications for ranchers' livelihoods versus conservation priorities, a conflict that echoes across multiple species and regions.
Background
The Endangered Species Act, passed in 1973, provides protections for species listed as threatened or endangered, making it illegal to harass, harm, or kill them. Grey wolves were historically widespread across much of North America but were nearly eradicated by government-sponsored bounty programs in the 20th century. They were listed as endangered in 1978. Mexican wolves, a smaller subspecies, were reintroduced to the wild in the US in 1998 from captive breeding stock. The recovery of both populations has been slow and politically divisive, with periodic efforts to delist grey wolves at the state or federal level.
Key Perspectives
Trump administration / Ranchers: Argue delisting is necessary to help ranchers protect livestock, noting declining herd numbers and rising beef demand. Frame wolves as a threat to agricultural viability and cultural heritage.
20-state coalition / conservation groups: Contend the delisting violates the Endangered Species Act, which requires species to be recovered across their historical range—which grey wolves have not achieved. They say wolf attacks on livestock are rare and have minimal economic impact.
Critics/Skeptics: Some question whether either population has genuinely recovered. The grey wolf occupies only a fraction of its former habitat, and the Mexican wolf population remains small and genetically vulnerable. Legal observers note that the 2022 delisting attempt was blocked in court, suggesting similar obstacles ahead.
What to Watch
- The Interior Department's 90-day population assessment, due by early December 2026.
- The federal court's initial ruling on whether to issue a temporary injunction blocking any delisting action during the litigation.
- Whether additional states or environmental groups join the lawsuit or file separate challenges.