The Trump administration rolled back the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act has protected birds for over 100 years — but it was weakened by a Trump administration rollback this month.1 Environmental Action is working to restore the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which is a vital and historic law with an inspiring history.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was the product of good organizing.
At the turn of the twentieth century, bird populations were decimated by hunters, scientists, collectors and fashion. Egret hats, which each used feathers from four dead egrets, were an especially popular fashion statement for wealthy women.2
But activists raised public awareness of bird die-offs and encouraged women not to buy feather hats. As more people banned together to save the birds, state legislatures passed laws to protect bird species.3
The wildlife activists won their campaign in 1916, when Woodrow Wilson signed the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which protects birds across the country.4
The Trump administration decision rolls back 100 years of bird protections.
The treaty makes it illegal to pursue, take, capture, kill or sell live or dead birds, feathers, eggs and nests, with the exception of permitted hunting.
A new Trump administration rollback allows companies to “incidentally” kill birds with no consequences, which weakens the law. Under the new rule, companies won’t be fined even when birds suffocate in oil field waste pits, get electrocuted on power transmission lines, or drown under commercial fishing nets.5
Environmental Action is working to restore the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was born out of good organizing and public pressure. And, 100 years later, activism can return the treaty to its full strength.
Environmental Action delivered over 9,000 public comments in opposition to the Trump administration rollback — and we’re confident that the incoming administration will reverse this decision if we can keep up this public momentum.
- Lisa Friedman, “Trump Administration, in Parting Gift to Industry, Reverses Bird Protections,” The New York Times, January 5, 2021.
- Angela Serratore, “Keeping Feathers Off of Hats– And on Birds,” Smithsonian Magazine, May 15, 2018.
- Angela Serratore, “Keeping Feathers Off of Hats– And on Birds,” Smithsonian Magazine, May 15, 2018.
- Amanda D. Rodewald, “The Trump administration is cutting back protection for migratory birds,” Salon, December 1, 2020.
- Juliet Eilperin and Sarah Kaplan, “Trump officials move to relax rules on killing birds,” The Washington Post, November 27, 2020.