Full Breakdown
U.S. House Passes Bill to Delist Gray Wolves from Endangered Species List
12/19/2025, 10:01:23 PM
Legislative Action on Gray Wolves
On December 18, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 211 to 204 to pass H.R. 845, known as the "Pet and Livestock Protection Act," which aims to remove gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections across the lower 48 states. The bill, introduced by Republican Representatives Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, directs the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a 2020 rule that had previously delisted gray wolves, a decision later overturned by a federal court in 2022. The legislation also includes a provision that prohibits judicial review of the delisting.
Background and Context
Gray wolves were nearly eradicated from the contiguous United States by the 1970s, leading to their listing under the ESA. They were delisted in 2011 through congressional action, but subsequent legal challenges reinstated protections. As of now, gray wolves are classified as endangered in 44 states and threatened in Minnesota, with an estimated population of around 2,797 in the western U.S. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported approximately 4,900 wolves in the western Great Lakes region, while populations in states like California and Colorado remain minimal.
Support for the Bill
Proponents of the bill argue that gray wolf populations have sufficiently recovered and that state management is more effective. Rep. Boebert stated, “The science has been clear for years: gray wolves are fully recovered, and their resurgence deserves to be celebrated as a true conservation success story.” Supporters, including various ranching and farming associations, contend that the current federal protections hinder effective management and threaten livestock safety.
Rep. Cliff Bentz of Oregon emphasized the economic impact on ranchers, stating, “Ranching families are paying the price for policies made in Washington that ignore conditions on the ground.” The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association also expressed support, framing the bill as a victory for rural communities.
Criticism and Opposition
Opponents of the bill, including conservation groups and several Democratic lawmakers, argue that delisting is premature and could lead to increased hunting and trapping, jeopardizing wolf populations. Stephanie Kurose from the Center for Biological Diversity described the bill as a “deadly invitation to trophy hunt wolves to extinction.” Critics assert that the bill undermines scientific evidence and public sentiment, with a survey indicating that 78% of Americans support continued protections for gray wolves.
Democratic Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr. warned that the bill “fails to recognize the status of gray wolves today,” while House Natural Resources Committee ranking Democrat Jared Huffman criticized it for blocking judicial review, stating it “tells the American people they no longer have the right to challenge unlawful government actions.”
What's Next
The bill now moves to the Senate, where it requires 60 votes to pass. Its future remains uncertain, with previous similar legislation failing to advance in a Democratic-controlled Senate. If passed, the bill would significantly alter the management of gray wolves, returning authority to state agencies, which have historically faced criticism for their handling of wolf populations.
