Threats to Wildlife Conservation, Climate Progress, and Environmental Quality and Research

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Summary of potential threats to Conservation and Environmental Quality currently under consideration by Congress and various federal agencies:

Mass Layoffs and Program Elimination

- Thousands of federal employees have been laid off from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

- Over 32,000 AmeriCorps service members were abruptly terminated, ending programs supporting education, disaster relief, and public health.

- The U.S. Geological Survey’s Ecosystems Mission Area, which monitors species and habitat health, is on track for elimination. Missouri-based research centers are at risk of closure.

Rollbacks of Bedrock Environmental and Wildlife Protections

- The Clean Water Act has been narrowed through the rollback of the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule, endangering wetlands and small streams.

- The definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act is being stripped, making it harder to protect species’ habitats.

- Migratory Bird Treaty Act enforcement has been weakened by excluding “incidental take” from industrial activities.

H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill) and Public Land Threats

- As passed by the House, H.R.1 eliminates all remaining Inflation Reduction Act funding for the National Park Service – including $267 million that could have supported critical park staffing needs.

- Section 80121(h) of H.R. 1 would block courts from reviewing agency decisions on leases, permits, and protections—undermining judicial oversight nationwide.

- An amendment removed in the House would have sold over 500,000 acres of public lands in Utah and Nevada, but - Senator Mike Lee has signaled plans to reintroduce this in the Senate

Attacks on Science and Data

- Climate-related terms like “greenhouse gases” have been scrubbed from agency websites.

- Key environmental data has been deleted from USDA, EPA, NASA, and Department of Defense sites.

- EPA’s entire climate section was removed in April 2025. Legal action is ongoing to restore access to essential information.

Loss of Conservation Funding

- Proposed FY26 budget eliminates $171 million from vital Fish and Wildlife Service programs, including:

- State & Tribal Wildlife Grants

 - North American Wetlands Conservation Act

 - Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund

 - The National Park Service faces a $1.2 billion cut, risking the loss of federal protection for lesser-known public lands.

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Current Actions

Threats to Wildlife Conservation, Climate Progress, and Environmental Quality and Research