Originally Posted in the Ripon Advance on April 4, 2025.


U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) wants to have the dunes sagebrush lizard and the lesser prairie chicken removed from the threatened and endangered species list to help unleash American energy, highlight the success of local conservation efforts, and restore regulatory certainty for rural communities.

The congressman led an April 1 letter sent to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum regarding the matter, and on the same day sponsored the Limiting Incredulous Zealots Against Restricting Drilling (LIZARD) Act of 2025, H.R. 2573. 

The designations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) “have imposed unnecessary regulatory burdens on our rural communities, threatening the vital work of hard-working farmers, ranchers, and energy producers while disregarding the proven success of the state and privately led conservation efforts,” wrote Rep. Pfluger and a Republican colleague in the letter.

“Reversing these listings would recognize the success of local conservation efforts and restore regulatory certainty for the communities and industries that depend on access to these lands,” the lawmakers wrote.

Rep. Pfluger and his colleague pointed out that under the Biden administration, both species were listed as endangered, resulting in net acreage conservation gains for the lizards’ habitat and an increased population of the lesser prairie chicken population.

Striking a balance between empowering states, landowners, and private partners to continue leading species management would ensure wildlife can be protected without sacrificing economic growth, energy production, or jobs, they wrote.

The lawmakers called on the administration to direct the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist both species from the ESA to “restore balance to our conservation efforts — allowing local stakeholders to continue their successful work while safeguarding American energy production, protecting jobs, and supporting rural economies.”

In addition, Rep. Pfluger and his colleague introduced H.R. 2573 to remove both species from the ESA.

“Former President Biden spent four years fulfilling his promise to kill the fossil fuel industry one horrible policy at a time – including listing the dunes sagebrush lizard under the [ESA], a direct attack on our hard-working men and women in the energy sector,” said Rep. Pfluger. “This listing, along with many others, was completely misguided and repudiates significant private conservation efforts in West Texas.”

The legislation, which is supported by the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee.