US spends most money for endangered species on a few creatures

Since the passage of the Endangered Species Act, over 1,700 species in the US have been listed as threatened or endangered with extinction. However, federal government data reveals disparities in funding allocation. Half of the $1.2 billion spent annually on endangered and threatened species goes towards the recovery of salmon and steelhead trout. Meanwhile, species like the Virginia fringed mountain snail, with only $100 spent on its behalf in 2020, and over 200 imperiled plants have been neglected. Scientists argue for reallocating funds to save less charismatic but equally important species.