The Trump administration is threatening to seize control of Colorado's programme to reintroduce the endangered gray wolf, in what state Democrats are calling the latest act of a politically motivated retaliation campaign.
Federal Threats Over Wolf Conservation
According to a report in The Washington Post, the confrontation escalated last autumn. As Colorado prepared to import 15 wolves from Canada as part of its ongoing species rehabilitation scheme, White House lawyers sent a "cease and desist" letter to state officials.
The federal pressure intensified in December. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum accused the state of prioritising "WOLVES over American ranchers!", claiming the animals were released without warning from a pack known to kill livestock. He issued a stark warning: "if Colorado does not get control of the wolves immediately, we will!".
The White House has cited Colorado's alleged violation of an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as justification for its intervention. The federal agency has threatened to terminate the pact, which grants Colorado management authority, unless the state provides a complete report on all conservation activities since the first release of 10 wolves in December 2023.
A Pattern of Political Retribution
State officials frame this as part of a broader pattern of attacks from the Trump administration, linked to the president's continued false claims that the 2020 presidential election was "rigged". Colorado's mail-in voting system has been a particular focus of his ire.
In recent months, the administration has repeatedly denied Colorado federal funding, including emergency aid following wildfires and flooding, and support for programmes like the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The president also vetoed a bipartisan bill for a clean water pipeline in southeastern Colorado.
Furthermore, Trump has publicly demanded the release of former elections clerk Tina Peters, who is serving a nine-year prison sentence for crimes connected to a breach of sensitive voter data after the 2020 election. In a New Year's Eve post on Truth Social, he told state officials to "rot in hell" for refusing to free the 70-year-old.
Colorado's Response and the Stakes
Colorado's Attorney General has accused the president of waging a "revenge campaign," while Democratic Governor Jared Polis has said Trump is playing "political games" with vital state interests. The potential federal takeover could completely derail the voter-approved reintroduction of gray wolves into the state's ecosystem.
In response to the allegations, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated that President Trump responds to all disaster aid requests with "great care and consideration" to ensure tax dollars are used appropriately. She insisted there is "no politicization" in the administration's decisions on disaster assistance.
The Independent has requested comment from the White House regarding its specific intervention in the wolf reintroduction programme.
