Overview
- House leaders postponed the ESA Amendments Act vote Wednesday after objections from several Republicans, especially from Florida.
- The bill, H.R. 1897 from Rep. Bruce Westerman, would broaden the Endangered Species Committee’s power to waive protections when officials cite national security or economic harm.
- Other changes in the package include shifting more control to states, extending federal timelines for listing decisions, limiting court review after delisting, requiring cost analyses for critical habitat, and easing permits that allow incidental harm to protected species.
- The pause followed fresh alarm over the rarely used “God Squad,” which last month granted a blanket exemption for Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activity, prompting lawsuits and new risks flagged for the critically endangered Rice’s whale.
- Speaker Mike Johnson said member concerns drove the delay, Westerman said he will revise the bill for a possible return in coming weeks, and any House passage would still face a steep 60‑vote hurdle in the Senate as conservation groups tout a temporary win.