(NAFB.com) – The Trump administration has proposed a sweeping set of changes to the Endangered Species Act, setting up a fight with conservation groups that say the revisions would sharply weaken protections for imperiled wildlife. The draft rules would allow economic considerations to factor into decisions about safeguarding habitat and species. The proposal would also eliminate automatic protections for newly listed threatened species, instead requiring case-by-case regulations, and reduce the role of future climate-related threats in listing decisions. Environmental groups warn the administration is trying to narrow what qualifies as “harm” under the law by excluding many forms of habitat modification.  Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said the changes will protect species while “respect[ing] the livelihoods of Americans who depend on our land and resources.” Officials say the changes are aimed at improving efficiency and transparency. The proposal is expected to draw significant legal challenges and could reshape how the federal government manages wildlife recovery for years.