This year, NCBA has seen significant progress made on endangered species protections and program flexibility through continued efforts with legislators across both chambers of Congress as well as across political parties. NCBA will continue to work with members of Congress to advocate for U. S. cattlemen and women.

Regulatory Wins

NCBA supported the successful rescission of Endangered Species Act( ESA) 4( d) rule. Previously, the“ blanket 4( d)” rule treated all species listed as“ threatened” under the ESA as endangered— unless the agency published a 4( d) rule allowing for management flexibility. This approach contravened the intent and scope of the ESA, so the rescission provides ranchers and agency partners the flexibility to address the true needs of species without subjecting all“ threatened” species to the restrictive conditions imposed on“ endangered” listing.

In addition to this rule, NCBA supported the administration’ s changes to section 4( b)( 2) of the ESA, which provides a practical approach to species conservation and will result in a more targeted approach to the agency’ s efforts to carry out species’ recovery. The ESA 4( b)( 2) rule provides for the agency to consider all relevant factors, including social and economic costs, when considering whether to designate critical habitat, and decline to designate all or a portion of critical habitat if the costs of designation outweigh the benefits to the species.

Following more than a decade of work, the Bureau of Land Management’ s( BLM) Record of Decision for 77 resource management plans for 10 western states on Sage Grouse was finalized. This important effort provides critical expectations for sustainability and predictability in managing resource threats. The amended plans refine habitat management objectives, adjust seasonal habitat protections, and incorporate new tools for addressing wildfire, invasive species and other landscape-scale threats. BLM states that these revisions are intended to improve habitat resilience while maintaining flexibility for grazing, energy development and other authorized uses.

For years, NCBA has advocated for producers affected by Mexican wolves. The goal has been to secure delisting of recovered species and focus voluntary investment on imperiled species to avoid regulatory burdens, providing relief for ranchers affected by cumbersome and delayed delisting processes. This year, crucial amended standards for the process to confirm depredations and facilitate a streamlined process to ensure producer compensation were achieved. To that end, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service( APHIS) Wildlife Services has altered their Standards of Evidence to no longer only rely on subcutaneous hemorrhaging.

Legislative Wins

NCBA saw success in the funding of several programs supported by the organization. Through Congressional Appropriation, APHIS Wildlife Services received $ 1,500,000 for the Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Program and $ 124,250,000 for Wildlife Damage Management.

In December 2025, NCBA successfully secured House passage

20 NATIONAL CATTLEMEN DIRECTIONS 2026