Pet and Livestock Protection Act
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Official Summary
Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of the Interior to remove protections for the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Specifically, the bill requires Interior to reissue the final rule titled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and published on November 3, 2020. The rule removed the gray wolf in the lower 48 United States, except for the Mexican wolf (C. l. baileyi) subspecies, from the endangered and threatened species list. However, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacated the rule on February 10, 2022. As a result, the gray wolf reattained the protection status it had prior to the rule's promulgation. The bill also prohibits the reissuance of the rule from being subject to judicial review.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025 directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections in the lower 48 states, except for the Mexican wolf subspecies. This action would reinstate a 2020 rule that delisted the gray wolf but was vacated by a federal court in 2022. The bill also prohibits judicial review of the reissued rule, effectively preventing courts from challenging the delisting decision.
This bill seeks to restore the gray wolf's delisted status under the ESA and blocks judicial challenges to that decision, impacting federal wildlife protections and management.
- Requires the Department of the Interior to reissue the 2020 rule removing gray wolves from ESA protections in the contiguous U.S., except for the Mexican wolf subspecies.
- The 2020 rule was vacated by a federal court in 2022, reinstating ESA protections for gray wolves prior to that rule.
- Prohibits judicial review of the reissued rule, limiting legal challenges to the delisting.
['Department of the Interior, by receiving a clear directive to delist gray wolves', 'Livestock owners and agricultural sectors potentially affected by gray wolf predation', 'State wildlife management agencies in states with gray wolf populations']
['Limiting judicial review may reduce oversight and accountability of federal wildlife management decisions.', 'Reissuing the delisting rule could lead to changes in gray wolf population management with ecological and conservation implications.', 'The bill does not specify funding or resources for implementation or monitoring of the delisting.']
The bill responds to a 2022 court decision that vacated a 2020 rule removing gray wolves from ESA protections. It reflects ongoing legislative efforts to influence federal endangered species policy and wildlife management, particularly regarding predator species and their impact on livestock and ecosystems.
Hidden impact flags detected: 1
GovScope reviewed 1 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Potential changes in gray wolf population dynamics and ecosystem impacts due to altered federal protections.', 'Possible shifts in state-level wildlife management policies following federal delisting.', 'Reduced legal avenues for environmental groups or other stakeholders to challenge gray wolf management decisions.']
The bill removes judicial oversight of a significant wildlife protection decision, which may affect transparency and accountability in federal endangered species management. The absence of full bill text limits detailed analysis of implementation mechanisms and funding provisions.
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