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In 2023, following a review of a 2019 final rule that revised the regulations under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), regarding prohibitions and protections for endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife, and plants, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed to revise those regulations. The rulemaking process involved extensive stakeholder engagement, including a series of informational sessions to Federal and State agencies, federally recognized Tribes, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community leaders, nongovernmental organizations, conservation partners, and industry groups. The final rule reinstates the general application of the "blanket rule" option for protecting newly listed threatened species pursuant to section 4(d) of the Act, with the continued option to promulgate species-specific section 4(d) rules. Among other minor changes to clarify or correct the existing regulations, the final rule also extended to federally recognized Tribes the exceptions to prohibitions for threatened species that the regulations currently provide to the employees or agents of FWS and other Federal and State agencies to aid, salvage, or dispose of threatened species.