HR: 4754 Threatens to Permanently Delist Wolves
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Wolves in the United States have fought their way back from the brink of extinction thanks to decades of protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). But today, those protections are once again under threat.
What is H.R. 4754?
H.R. 4754, officially called the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, is the federal funding bill that decides how agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are resourced. On paper, it’s a routine appropriations bill. In reality, critics are calling it the “Extinction Bill” because of how much it undermines wildlife protections.
How Does the Bill Weaken the ESA?
The Endangered Species Act has been one of the most successful environmental laws in U.S. history. It has saved over 99% of species under its care from disappearing forever. But H.R. 4754 threatens to undo that legacy by:
Slashing funding for determining which species qualify for protection. With fewer resources, many species could vanish before ever being listed.
Packing in anti-wildlife riders—policy provisions that roll back conservation safeguards. This bill has been cited as containing more anti-wildlife riders than any previous appropriations bill.
Delisting specific species, including gray wolves and grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, removing their ESA protections.
Blocking reintroduction efforts for grizzlies in the North Cascades and Bitterroot regions, preventing critical recovery projects from moving forward.
What This Means for Wolves
For wolves, the consequences are devastating. Without ESA protection, states would once again have the power to open aggressive hunting and trapping seasons. We’ve already seen what happens when protections are lifted: in states like Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, wolves are killed in staggering numbers under state-sanctioned hunts.
This bill would not only strip away safeguards for wolves in places like Yellowstone—it would also undermine reintroduction and recovery efforts across the country. Wolves that are just beginning to reclaim lost ground could be pushed back toward extinction.
Why This Matters
The fight for wolves is about more than a single species. Wolves are keystone predators that shape entire ecosystems. Their return helps rivers flow, forests grow, and landscapes heal. To weaken the Endangered Species Act now—after 50 years of success—is to jeopardize the balance of our natural world.
Take Action
We cannot afford to let H.R. 4754 become law in its current form. Wolves, grizzlies, and countless other species depend on the protections of the Endangered Species Act.
Together, we can stop extinction. Together, we fight for wolves.