Congress yanks wolves from endangered list

As more details emerge about what exactly Republicans and Democrats agreed to cut in the new budget deal, environmentalists are crying foul over a tacked-on provision that will remove Rocky Mountain wolves from the federal endangered species list.

A rider attached to the budget agreement says endangered Montana and Idaho wolves should now be managed by state wildlife agencies, which directly contradicts a ruling by a federal judge, the New York Times reports. Environmentalists say science-based federal agencies, not Congress, should decide which animals need to be protected.

Sweeping cuts to environmental clean-up and renewable energy programs have added to environmentalists' anger over the deal.

(Endangered wolf in Montana: AP)