The Dismantling of USGS Ecosystem Mission Area
Issue tracker and action guide
Summary
This is a code red moment for conservation. The USGS Ecosystem Mission Area (EMA) is the backbone of our nation's ecological research. The Trump administration is trying to eliminate the EMA. The consequences will be devastating for ecological science and conservation. We need to stop this.
What's Happening
2 Pathways to Elimination: The Trump administration has taken steps to eliminate the USGS EMA through 2 pathways:
- Without Congressional approval by laying off staff and ending programs.
- With Congressional approval via the 2026 spending bills. Trump proposed eliminating USGS EMA in his budget request.
Supreme Surrender: On July 9 the Supreme Court overturned a lower court's injunction that had blocked Trump from illegally firing federal workers.
Big Decision in Congress: Congress is now deciding on the 2026 spending bill for USGS-EMA. Good news — the current draft bills reject Trump's extreme cuts and fund USGS EMA at close to 2025 levels. But there is still a long road for these bills to pass and it is uncertain if Trump will follow what they say.
Why It Matters
- Scope and Scale: USGS EMA includes 16 regional science centers, 43 cooperative research units on university campuses, 1,200 staff, and $326 million in 2024 funding.
- Research Mission: It conducts and supports world-leading scientific research on endangered species, ecosystem health, wildlife disease, climate change, and invasive species.
- Critical Research At Risk: Programs facing elimination include: the USGS Bee Lab, the North American Breeding Bird Survey, the National Wildlife Health Center, the Great Lakes Science Center, and many others.
How To Help
- Urgent Action: Please call your representative and call your senators about the 2026 budget. Urge them to oppose any funding cuts to the USGS Ecosystem Mission Area.
- Follow These Organizations: The big professional societies in ecology - Ecological Society of America, The Wildlife Society, and American Fisheries Society - are advocating very hard to prevent these cuts in the 2026 budget. Please support their efforts. Follow them on social media and get involved with their advocacy activities.
