Santa Fe, NM — Today, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas vacated the listing of the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The Court granted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's voluntary motion to vacate the listing decision and remand the case, while denying untimely motions from environmental litigation groups seeking to intervene. This decision, finalized on August 11, 2025, marks a significant win for New Mexico's agricultural and oil and gas industries, reinforcing a return to commonsense policy.
In response to today's court decision, Senate Republican Whip Pat Woods (R-Broadview) and Senators Candy Ezzell (R-Roswell) and Pat Boone (R-Elida) have issued the following joint statement:
"This victory is a triumph for New Mexico's hardworking ranchers and energy producers," said the rural New Mexico Senators. "The Court's decision supports the vitality of our state's agricultural and oil and gas sectors, which are the backbone of our economy and way of life. It reflects a commonsense approach to balancing conservation with the needs of our communities. Lastly, we sincerely appreciate and wish to recognize the diligent efforts of the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association as they coordinated opposition from public and private stakeholders."
