Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2025

The Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2025 would modify how federal agencies make decisions about protecting endangered and threatened species. If enacted, the bill would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service to publish online the scientific and commercial data supporting their decisions to list or protect species. The bill would also require these agencies to share all underlying data with affected states before making such determinations. Additionally, state, tribal, and county government data would be automatically considered part of the best available scientific information.

The bill would also cap attorney's fees awarded to winning parties in lawsuits brought under the Endangered Species Act, and would require the Department of the Interior to maintain a searchable online database showing federal spending on ESA-related litigation. Currently in committee consideration, these changes would affect how environmental protection decisions are made and could influence the balance between conservation efforts and state input in species protection determinations.