Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2025

This bill would modify the process for determining whether a species is threatened or endangered by requiring federal agencies to publish the scientific data used for such decisions online. It proposes that all data submitted by state, tribal, or county governments be automatically classified as the best available scientific and commercial data. Additionally, the bill would place a cap on attorney's fees for successful lawsuits brought under the Endangered Species Act and require the Department of the Interior to maintain a public database of litigation-related expenditures.

This bill affects federal agencies responsible for wildlife management, specifically the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Department of the Interior. It also impacts state, tribal, and county governments by requiring federal agencies to incorporate their submitted data into species determinations and share underlying data with affected states. Additionally, the bill affects prevailing parties in Endangered Species Act citizen suits by capping attorney's fees.

• Online publication of scientific data. Requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to publish the best scientific and commercial data used as the basis for species determinations on the internet.
• Classification of state, tribal, and local data. Expands the definition of the best scientific and commercial data available to automatically include all data submitted by state, tribal, or county governments.
• Data sharing with affected states. Directs federal agencies to provide all data underlying a species determination to the affected states before a final decision is made.
• Attorney's fees and litigation transparency. Establishes a cap on attorney's fees for prevailing parties in citizen suits and requires the Department of the Interior to maintain a searchable database of federal expenditures related to Endangered Species Act litigation.

This bill modifies requirements and procedures established under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), specifically regarding how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service determine if a species is threatened or endangered. It also places new limits on attorney's fees for citizen suits brought under the ESA and establishes new disclosure requirements for federal litigation expenditures related to the Act.

The bill aims to increase transparency and modify administrative processes under the Endangered Species Act by requiring the public disclosure of scientific data used in species determinations and establishing a searchable database for litigation expenditures. It also seeks to standardize the inclusion of state, tribal, and county data in the decision-making process and sets limits on attorney's fees for certain legal actions.