WASHINGTON, DC – February 14th, 2025 – The National Wildlife Refuge Association is deeply alarmed by today’s Department of the Interior (DOI)-wide termination of approximately 370 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) employees, many of whom are critical to the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System). These firings, which disproportionately target biologists and natural resource professionals, are a direct attack on science-based conservation and the future of America’s wildlife.
According to reports, these positions were deemed “not in the public interest” by DOI—an assertion that fundamentally ignores the role these professionals play in protecting and restoring our nation’s wildlife and wild places.
This sweeping, mass firing comes at a time when the Refuge System is already struggling with a decimated workforce. Today’s cuts will further cripple the agency’s ability to protect and manage America’s 573 national wildlife refuges, which span 95 million acres of land, 750 million acres of marine habitat, and supports countless species, many of which are keystone species, pollinators, and others vital to agriculture and the health of ecosystems.
“Losing this many dedicated employees all at once is an especially devastating blow to conservation efforts nationwide and an intentional dismantling of science,” said Desirée Sorenson-Groves, President & CEO of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. “The National Wildlife Refuge System was already underfunded and understaffed. The people being fired today are the backbone of wildlife protection in this country. Without them, habitats will degrade, endangered species will go unmonitored, trails will remain unmaintained, and visitors will lose access to environmental education and recreation opportunities. This is a crisis. These terminations will have long-lasting consequences for the protection of wildlife and habitat, as well as for the communities that depend on refuges for recreation, tourism, and economic benefits.”
Reports indicate that in order to hire new employees, the agency will be required to eliminate four current positions for every one new hire—a policy that will only worsen the Refuge System’s staffing crisis.
The Refuge Association urges the Department of the Interior and Congress to take immediate action to prevent further damage to the Refuge System and to reverse course and restore these positions and critical staffing and funding for wildlife conservation. Our organization, along with our partners, Refuge Friends groups, and refuge supporters and advocates, calls on decision-makers to prioritize the protection of the dedicated professionals who safeguard our nation’s wildlife. The public must speak out before more damage is done to our nation’s most treasured wild places.
For more information on how you can support our efforts, visit refugeassociation.org.
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As the independent voice advocating on behalf of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Wildlife Refuge Association protects, promotes, and enhances America’s wildlife heritage through strategic programs that serve the System and wildlife beyond its boundaries. The organization addresses Refuge System funding, management, and strategic growth, while also promoting programs that maximize the system’s conservation impact.
For all media inquiries and questions, please contact Eden Taylor, Director of Communications & Marketing at etaylor@refugeassociation.org.