Restoring Common Sense to the Endangered Species Act

Wyoming is on the front lines of wildlife management. We enjoy a rich diversity of some of America's most iconic species, yet we also directly witness how federal bureaucracy ties our hands and prevents local leaders from managing the wildlife in and around our communities. Look no further than the overgrown Greater Yellowstone Grizzly population. These apex predators - currently protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) - attack hunters and hikers, damage property, and destroy livestock. Despite the undeniable need for delisting the grizzly and returning management to the states, there remains a sharp disconnect between the ESA and reality here in Wyoming.

Since the grizzly was listed as threatened in 1975 with an initial recovery goal of 500 bears, the population has since soared to well over 1,100 in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Despite this success, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) continues to delay delisting, ignoring recovery data and Wyoming's proven ability to manage wildlife responsibly. Earlier this year, instead of delisting, the USFWS proposed consolidating six recovery zones, including the Greater Yellowstone area, into one. This decision - made in the dying days of the Biden presidency - undermines years of progress and could set delisting back decades by combining areas like the Greater Yellowstone with populations that currently do not have any bears. Instead of celebrating one of the greatest conservation success stories in American history, we are being punished for doing our job too well.

We must restore common sense to species management and push back against the idea that the grizzly story should be the standard. That starts with changes on the federal level, which is why I am a proud cosponsor of the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025. This legislation makes critical reforms to the ESA by clearing a path for states to manage recovered species like the grizzly, allowing them to develop and submit recovery strategies for species that are listed as threatened, such as grizzly bears, and eliminating frivolous litigation. As a fourth-generation Wyomingite and the chair of the Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee, I know these are reforms that will bring welcome change to our state and beyond.

I also introduced the Grizzly Bear State Management Act, a bill that directs the USFWS to delist the grizzly from the endangered species list and return management to our state. The facts have been ignored for far too long, and it is time for Congress to act to address the everyday reality for those of us in Wyoming who must live with this predator.

Wyoming is no stranger to species management, and we know exactly what needs to be done when it comes to the grizzly and many others. We need to take back the reins and delist the grizzly to protect our loved ones and our livelihoods. I am confident that in this Congress and under President Trump's administration, we will see real change that addresses reality and allows our country to turn a page on wildlife conservation.