Nature Under Trump

The Trump administration has moved to strip Endangered Species Act protections from the lesser prairie-chicken, a grassland bird - known for its dancing mating rituals -  whose population has dropped to around 30,000 - a 97% decline since 1800.  The lesser prairie-chicken has lost approximately 85% of its available habitat due to oil and gas drilling, agriculture, and development. 

The American Bird Conservancy is leading the advocacy and on-the-ground conservation efforts to protect and recover the lesser prairie-chicken.

--May 18, 2025

Cementing his legacy as the anti-Teddy Roosevelt - Donald Trump has removed another huge area of nature from protection. 

Originally called the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument - this recently renamed preserve was the largest marine protected area in the world. 

On May 22, Earthjustice - along with Conservation Council for Hawai‘i and the Center For Biological Diversity - filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration challenging its actions to open the National Monument to industrial fishing. 

However,  The Pacific Island Heritage Coalition has been the most active group in organizing public support for the monument over the years and now.

The Trump administration is trying to dismantle the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) climate and environmental research programs. Like Trumps other attacks on federal agencies, he's taking a multi-pronged attack here. 

First, without any Congressional approval, he's taking drastic measure to hobble the agency - through mass layoffs and through self-sabotaging acts. like abruptly ending it's 40-year old, Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database. 

Second, Trump is proposing massive cuts to NOAA in his 2026 budget proposal. This would eliminate funding for climate, weather, and ocean laboratories, as well as cooperative institutes, and defund programs like Sea Grant and the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Altogether, these actions compromise the nation's ability to monitor and respond to climate change, extreme weather events, and oceanic health.

The good news is that there is still an opportunity to fight and stop the 2026 budget cuts since the budget should (hopefully) require bipartisan negotiation in order to get the 60 votes need in the Senate for passage. 

Union of Concerned Scientists has taken the lead in championing NOAA and opposing the Administration's dismantling of the agency. Individuals can support their efforts by following them on social media, donating, and - most importantly - getting involved in the organizations efforts. 

TerraCorps is a service organization that matched AmeriCorps volunteers with local conservation nonprofits. According to TerraCorps, they will likely be closing down due to the Trump Administration's early termination of their 43 service members and the cancellation of their AmeriCorps funding. 

TerraCorps has set up an emergency assistance fund for terminated TerraCorps members in need. Please consider donating.

--May 20, 2025 

This is a code red moment for conservation. The Trump Administration is waging a multi pronged attack on USGS EMA. There are rumors that Trump will unilaterally dismantle it through mass layoffs like he did with USAID. And Trump is also pushing for program elimination in the 2026 budget. 

This can be stopped! But we need all ecological professionals (and their supporters) taking action. The first step is to rally around the professional societies like The Wildlife Society, American Fisheries Society, and Ecological Society of America. They can all be strong advocates with bipartisan reach - but they need our help!  Follow them on social media and get involved with their advocacy activities. 

You can also help by calling your representative and calling your senator and asking them to publicly support the USGS Ecosystem Mission Area.

--May 22, 2025 

Trump's elimination of USAID funding for international conservation is potentially catastrophic for global biodiversity. Examples of USAID funded projects included efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia, preserve forest ecosystems in the Congo Basin, and protect marine biodiversity in the Coral Triangle. 

A judge ruled that the dismantling of USAID was unconstitutional but it doesn't look like the administration has unfrozen grant funding. 

Right now, it's very unclear what's happening and what comes next in restoring US government funding for international conservation efforts. We invite anyone who has insight about this to contact us. But what's certain, is that this is a critical issue. 

We recommend supporting nonprofits like World Wildlife Fund that have been leaders in international conservation fundraising and that partner with local efforts to protect biodiversity. 

--May 20, 2025 

There is no exaggeration here - this would be catastrophically bad for nature conservation in the United States. The ESA is the bedrock law for protecting endangered species and their habitat We can't allow it to be weakened. 

Trump has initiated a rule making process. This opened up a public comment period that just closed on May 19, 2025. Conservation nonprofits have rallied their base and 323,576 comments were received - most likely, 99% opposed the change. Now we wait for the decision to be made. 

Organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity are actively opposing these rollbacks. If the ESA is weakened, they will lead lawsuits opposing the changes. Please follow them on social media and consider donating to their efforts. 

--May 20, 2025

In January 2025, Trump signed an executive order reinstating federal approvals for the Ambler Mining Road, a 211-mile industrial route through remote Alaskan roadless areas including Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. The Biden administration had previously suspended the project due to environmental and tribal concerns. Trump’s action revived the fast-tracked 2020 approvals, prioritizing mineral development over ecological values and Indigenous opposition. The road would cut through sensitive caribou habitat and subsistence lands.

A coalition of nonprofits called Defend Brooks Range is vigorously opposing the project. They need all the support they can get. 

-- May 20, 2025

The Trump administration canceled FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which had provided grant funding for flood mitigation projects nationwide which included $5.8 million in funding to Dover Township to restore the Little Conewago Creek floodplain back to its pre-settlement condition.  

Project benefits would have included: *Mitigate Flooding, *Eliminate Land Loss Due to Bank Erosion, *Improve Water Quality, *Restore Critical Stream, *Wetland & Riparian Habitat, *Enhance Recreational Opportunities

If you are upset about this, please support the Choose Clean Water Coalition, a regional network advocating for clean water and climate resilience in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including Pennsylvania. 

--May 20, 2025

The Trump administration is advancing sulfide-ore copper mining by a Chilean company near Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). An executive order signed in March prioritized mineral extraction on federal lands, effectively fast-tracking mining projects and undermining existing environmental protections. Subsequently, a U.S. House panel approved legislation to overturn a 20-year mining moratorium in the Superior National Forest and reinstate canceled leases for the Twin Metals project, reigniting concerns over potential pollution in the watershed.

Multiple local organizations are working to oppose these actions including: Friends of the Boundary Waters, Save the Boundary Waters, and Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters. 

--May 22, 2025

The Trump Administration weakened the 107-year old Migratory Bird Treaty Act by prohibiting only intentional killings of migratory birds, effectively exempting industries from penalties from avoidable bird deaths (AKA "incidental take") caused by activities such as oil drilling. According to National Audubon Society: 

"These protections from “incidental take” have successfully been implemented by both Republican and Democratic administrations for decades and have saved millions of birds, while helping maintain an annual $279 billion economic impact from birding, a pastime that 96 million Americans partake and invest in every year. This law is vital for the conservation of more than 1,000 species of birds, especially as populations have declined by 3 billion birds since 1970 across North America."

--May 19, 2025

The administration cancelled funding for this project which had been awarded under the Inflation Reduction Act's Community Change Grants. 

This project would have greatly benefited coastal habitat and local communities of Trump's home Queens County. Other project details included local workforce development, beach pollution control, and native plant production. 

You can help this project's future prospects, by supporting the lead local nonprofit RISE any way you can.

--May 18, 2025

Victory (for now). The House of Representatives removed the land sale provision before approving the tax cut legislation on May 21, 2025.

--Update May 22, 2025

Republicans have added a provision to Trump's tax cut legislation that would set aside 460,000 acres of public lands to be sold off to local government and private entities. This land would likely be slated for housing, energy, and mineral development.

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is one of many conservation organizations that are rallying opposition to this harmful action. 

--Updated May 115

Friends of the Yampa's mission is to protect and enhance the environmental and recreational integrity of the Yampa River and its tributaries, through stewardship, advocacy, education and partnerships.

The organization received a grant to control the highly invasive Leafy Spurge which has become a major problem along the Yampa River. The project would control Leafy Spurge using beetles that feed on the plant. This project was supposed to be conducted with Dinosaur National Monument.

Project funding was frozen by the Trump administration. 

Updated May 15, 2025

In a new attack on National Parks, the House passed a reconciliation bill (Trump's big beautiful bill) that eliminates $267 million in NPS funding that was approved under the Inflation Reduction Act. The bill now goes to the Senate where that funding could be restored - if we make enough noise!

-Updated May 26, 2025

The Trump administration is attempting to massively downsize the staffing and funding of the National Park Service (NPS) and transfer ownership of NPS sites to the states. So far, roughly 13% of NPS staffing has been reduced from the federal hiring freeze, layoffs, and buyouts. Additional reductions in workforce have been planned which would further reduce NPS staffing levels. 

For 2026, Trump has proposed over $1 billion in funding cuts to NPS operations and grants program. This would be a 30% drop from 2025 levels and would likely result in the closing of many park units. Hand-in-hand with these cuts, Trump has also proposed transferring control of some parks to the states. 

National Parks Conservation Association  is the leading advocacy organization specifically for the National Park Service.

--Updated May 12, 2025

With only 4 full-time staff, Voices for National Service is the leading advocate for Americorps service. The administration’s dismantling of Americorps has thrust this small nonprofit into the epicenter of an urgent political battle for conservation.

In one of the administration's most shameful acts, they terminated service early for thousands of young people who were dedicating a formative period of their lives to service to their country in exchange for professional development and very modest pay. 

This is also a big loss for nature conservation and local communities. Americorps funds tens of thousands of positions in conservation (and other fields) doing very important work.

The Trump Administration is looking to completely dismantle AmeriCorps - and they've taken big steps already in that direction. States have filed suit in the courts since these massive cuts without any Congressional approval are likely illegal. And  there has been local outrage over the cuts given AmeriCorps importance in places like West Virginia, Ohio, and Wyoming. But saving AmeriCorps is going to require a strong advocacy effort. 

This is an “all hands on deck” moment for Voices of National Service. Given the small size of the organization and critical urgency of their current work, any support you can provide them will have a big impact on helping conservation.

--May 12, 2025

This is another important restoration project stopped in its tracks due to Trump's funding freezes. Funding was awarded through the Inflation Reduction Act and construction was slated to begin in Spring, 2025 but has been halted.   

Connecticut River Conservancy protects and restores the Connecticut River watershed in CT, MA ,NH,  and VT. If you live in this region, please follow and support them.