Committee advances Pet and Livestock Protection Act to delist gray wolf; Democrats urge science-based recovery planning

Chairman Westerman introduced HR 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025, describing it as legislation that would return gray wolf management to states and tribal agencies by reinstating the 2020 Department of Interior delisting rule and precluding judicial review of that rule.

Representative Boebert and Representative Tiffany led support for the bill. Backers pointed to population estimates in the thousands across multiple states and called the wolf an Endangered Species Act (ESA) success story. "The gray wolf has long, has been the latest Endangered Species Act recovery success story," the chair said in opening remarks, and supporters argued that state wildlife agencies are better positioned to manage local populations and conflicts with ranchers.

Ranking Member Huffman, Representative Hoyle, Representative Gray, and other Democrats opposed the legislative delisting. They urged the committee to allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s nationwide recovery plan — due by December under the agency’s schedule discussed in the hearing — to proceed and to protect the role of courts and tribal consultation in any relisting or management changes. "This bill would undermine the FWS's ongoing work to develop a national recovery plan for gray wolves," Representative Hoyle said.

Members debated several amendments. Minority amendments sought (among other things) to require a recovery-plan timeline and to preserve judicial review if the wolf population were to rapidly decline. Proposals to condition delisting on staffing or monitoring capacity at the Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Agriculture — citing recent agency staff reductions discussed at the hearing — were offered but set aside or postponed; members repeatedly referenced firing of agency scientists and inspectors general as context for those proposals.

After debate, the committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute (technical changes) and ordered HR 845 reported favorably to the House. The committee recorded a final roll-call tally of 24 yeas and 17 nays to report the bill as amended.

Why it matters: The measure would legislatively delist gray wolves across the lower 48 states, bypassing the agency rulemaking pathway that opponents say is designed to ensure science-based, regionally nuanced decisions and tribal consultation. Supporters say court challenges have repeatedly blocked administrative delisting and that congressional action provides a durable resolution.

Members said they will continue to seek follow-up: Democrats signaled plans for oversight to ensure monitoring, tribal consultation, and livestock-compensation programs remain functional if delisting proceeds; Republicans said states will manage wolves consistent with recovery goals.

Next steps: The committee ordered HR 845 reported to the House, where it may be considered on the floor and could prompt additional hearings or litigation.