US wildlife agencies will now consider economic costs when protecting endangered species

The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service propose new rules for protecting endangered species. These rules will allow agencies to consider the economic costs of protecting a species when making decisions.

For decades, US law required agencies to protect endangered species without considering the economic impact. This change means that a new road, a new dam, or a new housing development could now be approved even if it harms an endangered species, as long as the economic benefits are deemed high enough. This shifts the balance between conservation and development.