US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to remove endangered species protection for the grey wolf and the Mexican wolf subspecies. The order states that ranchers play a "vital role" in the food supply chain and American cultural heritage.
The executive order does not immediately permit ranchers to kill wolves. Instead, it gives Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to assess whether the grey and Mexican wolf populations have recovered enough to be removed from the endangered species list.
Conservation groups have criticised the decision, expressing concerns that it could undermine long-term efforts to restore endangered wolf populations. Figures from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) show that there were 319 Mexican wolves in the wild in the US in 2025, a rise from four in 1998. Approximately 18,000 grey wolves are present across the US, though they are still considered endangered due to habitat destruction.
Environmental groups highlight studies suggesting that wolf attacks on livestock are infrequent and have minimal impact on ranchers' income. The Wolf Conservation Center noted that ranchers are currently eligible for up to 100% compensation for livestock losses caused by wolves, with individual states funding programmes to deter attacks.
The executive order comes as the Trump administration aims to address record-high beef prices for consumers, which have been influenced by drought and a parasite outbreak in US beef stocks.