Legal experts say the biggest threats to the species protected under the law come from lax enforcement. Low funding can slow or halt the process of adding species to the list or designating critical habitat. The US Fish and Wildlife Service recently said it would stop listing species temporarily because it didn't have the funds to do so while also designating critical habitat for hundreds of species as required by environmentalist lawsuits. That route has been attempted only four times in the law's history, most famously for the snail darter and the Northern spotted owl. In the case of Snake and Columbia river salmon, which many see as ripe for a God Squad, the necessary finding of jeopardy has not been made.
Many environmentalists see less direct means as likely for environmental rollbacks.
For instance, repopulating governing boards and commissions could have substantial effects. Bush also could slash budgets for certain programs, such as enforcement. Further, he could instruct his Justice Department against aggressive defense against specific lawsuits, moving to settlements that include promises to revisit specific regulations, deflecting criticism from the administration.