The Trump administration is proposing to significantly weaken protections under the Endangered Species Act with new rules that would allow for more oil drilling, logging and mining in habitats for endangered species in the U.S. One of the proposed rules would enable the government to consider economic factors before deciding whether to list a species as endangered. Another rule would reduce the requirements for other federal agencies to consult with wildlife agencies on whether their actions could harm critical habitats. Jane Davenport, a senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife, said the new rules could “accelerate the extinction crisis we face today.” An investigation by the Montana Free Press found the Endangered Species Act has prevented 291 species from going extinct since it was passed in 1973.