The Interior and Commerce departments have announced changes to the Endangered Species Act that were cheered by farmers and ranchers but harshly criticized by environmentalists, who vowed to challenge them in court.

The Fish and Wildlife Service’s plans to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list drew praise from ranchers and condemnation from environmental groups, who say they will take legal action to retain federal protection.

For the first case of its new term, the Supreme Court tackled a question that pits the federal government against private landowners: Can areas not currently occupied by an endangered species be designated as critical habitat?

Sweeping proposals released by the Trump administration Thursday to change the way the government implements the Endangered Species Act provoked fairly predictable reactions – environmental groups blasted them, and industry groups welcomed them.