Washington (CNN) A coalition of environmental groups are taking the Trump administration to court over changes they say will weaken the Endangered Species Act.

The administration's rule -- which updates regulations around the law credited with saving the bald eagle and grizzly bear from extinction -- "undermines the fundamental purpose" of the law, the groups allege in federal court documents filed in California on Wednesday.

They also accuse the administration of withholding from public view "the significant environmental impacts from these regulations."

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross have said the rule change was initiated to make "them more efficient and effective."

"The new regulations recognize that the ESA's ultimate goal is species recovery and that goal is best advanced by tailoring appropriate protections to particular species' biological needs, based on the best available science," they wrote in a recent CNN.com opinion piece. "With this goal in mind, resources can be used more efficiently and financial support can go to where it will do the most good: on-the-ground conservation."

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