"Trump About-Face On Elephant Trophies Could Be Legal Misfire"

"President Trump's abrupt U-turn on elephant trophy imports could undermine his own appointees, break standard practice and all but invite a legal challenge from his customary allies.

Already, the president's move has sent Fish and Wildlife Service officials scrambling to figure out how they might unwind a decision that was painstakingly vetted and formally published. The officials must also handle hunters who may have already received trophy permits.

"In my experience, it's unprecedented for a final decision to be put on hold and reversed by the White House," former Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe said in an interview today.

Citing the confusion, the Center for Biological Diversity and Natural Resources Defense Council sued the Trump administration today in a bid to keep the initial ban in place."

Michael Doyle reports for Greenwire November 20, 2017.

SEE ALSO:

"Groups File Suit Over Elephant Trophy Decision" (Politico)

"The Daily 202: Elephant Trophy Reversal Shows What Influences Trump The Most" (Washington Post)

"Trump Faced Public And Private Pressure To Halt Elephant Hunting Trophy Imports" (Washington Post)

"Hunters Are Livid Over Trump's Elephant Trophy Decision" (Washington Post)

"Trump Calls Elephant Hunting A ‘Horror Show’ And Suggests He’Ll Enforce A Ban On Trophy Imports" (Washington Post)

"Before Elephants, US Loosened Limits on Lion Trophies" (AP)

"Trump Reverses Ban on Importing Elephants Killed as Trophies" (AP)

"Trump Halted These Hunt Trophies. Elephant Lovers Will Never Forget It." (New York Times)

"Trump Puts Elephant Trophies Decision On Hold Following Criticism" (The Hill)

"GOP chairman breaks with Trump on elephant trophy imports" (The Hill)

"Feinstein: 'Disgusting' Trump even considering lifting elephant trophy ban" (The Hill)