The bald eagle has made a heartening recovery from the brink of extinction. But hundreds of other species are now in grave danger due to slashed budgets, Bush administration policies, and political interference in science.
"In the last six years, the Bush administration has added fewer species to the endangered list than any other since the law was enacted in 1973...Beyond the reluctance to list new species, a bottleneck is weakening efforts to save those already listed...in part because funds have been cut for their recovery."
"The Bush administration has added 58 species to the endangered list, 54 of those in response to litigation. By comparison, 231 [species] were protected by the president's father, George H.W. Bush...Since 2000, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service budgets...have been slashed by 15% in real dollars. Bush's fiscal 2008 budget calls for an additional 28% in cuts."
"...recovery programs, listing decisions and efforts to remove wildlife from existing protections have been heavily influenced by Bush appointees with close ties to industries that have contested the law."
"...a deputy assistant secretary of the Interior who oversaw the endangered-species program, resigned last month after the inspector general found that she had ordered scientists to change their findings, and shared internal documents with lobbyists for agricultural and energy interests."
"To date, the Bush administration has taken 15 species off the endangered list - more than any other administration. Some were widely applauded, such as the bald eagle...Others, environmental groups contend, were politically driven..."
FULL STORY: Critics say species list is endangered

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

Blocked, Restored, Blocked Again — Housing Funds in Legal Limbo
Since Trump took office, the administration has blocked multiple affordable housing funding streams. Here's a look at which funds have been frozen, which have been reinstated, and which are in the courts.

Mapping Groundwater Risks from Orphan Wells Across U.S. Aquifers
A new USGS study reveals that more than half of the nation’s documented orphan wells lie within aquifers supplying the vast majority of U.S. groundwater, posing widespread risks of contamination from aging, unplugged infrastructure.

Reflections on Representation and Legacy in Parks and Public Service
In a personal reflection for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, planner Clement Lau explores how cultural identity, public service, and a commitment to equity have shaped his career in parks, community planning, and sustainability.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions