NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In the Trump administration’s last days, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed a change to rules protecting alligators.

Opponents say it's an end-run around the chance that Louisiana might lose a federal court challenge to California’s ban on selling alligator products.

The government is taking comments until March 22 on the proposal. It would remove 12 words giving states the last say about sales of alligator products within their boundaries. It actually goes beyond what Louisiana asked for in December.

The state asked to have alligator hides removed from products that other states can keep from being sold.