Scientists warn that cuts to scientific agencies threaten endangered species

Mass Layoffs at US Science Agencies Threaten Protection of Endangered Species. Experts Warn: 'Conservation at Risk'

Scientists sounded the alarm for the potential danger, but now the alarm is more pressing than it was: the Trump administration’s reductions to science agencies are threatening the future of dozens of threatened species. The sweeping layoffs and environmental research funding freezes can have devastating impacts, not only for biodiversity but for the health of ecosystems that millions of humans rely on.

A fatal blow to conservation

Scientists who toil to protect endangered species are among the first to feel the sting of these cutbacks. Nick Gladstone, a cave biologist and former chief biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, labored to protect 15 underground invertebrates and cave ecosystems in central Texas. He is now among 400 experts released in the name of “government efficiency.”

“Without our presence, these species will be forgotten for years,” Gladstone told The Guardian. His main concern is the impact on the Edwards Aquifer, the only water source for over two million Texans, where the subterranean invertebrates are crucial environmental health indicators.

The conservation loss is not just for small invertebrates. The recovery strategy for the black-footed ferret, one of the flagship species of North American wildlife, has also been ripped to shreds. The future of such animals seems more uncertain without the work of these professionals.

Project 2025 and environmental deregulation

Behind this dismissal wave is said to be the so-called “Project 2025,” a right-wing American political manifesto which views legislation defending the environment as obstacles to economic development. The plan is to delist certain species from the Endangered Species Act, including the gray wolf and the grizzly bear, to promote activities of land exploitation.

However, this policy ignores the fact that many of these species are not just symbols of American wilderness but key elements of ecosystems. “We’ve been understaffed for years, and now we’re seeing our efforts undone,” said a biologist from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. “Without funding and staff, species recovery is bound to stop.”

The effects of Trump’s budget cuts on scientific research

The cuts are not just affecting wildlife. Climate change and food security researchers are also being made redundant. One researcher at the US Geological Survey, who was working on climate adaptation research, described how the budget freeze is slowing down urgently needed research on the resilience of agricultural communities to extreme weather.

“We cannot afford to cut back on climate research,” said the scientist. “This is a global battle, and we’re falling behind other countries.” The reductions in science within the federal budget, experts say, not only endanger the protection of the environment but also harm the competitiveness of the US in research.

An uncertain future for environmental protection

The scientific community does not intend to surrender. The Union of Concerned Scientists has openly criticized the Trump administration’s policies, highlighting how the reductions are not only an attack on nature preservation but also on public health. “They are sabotaging important research on vaccines, antibiotic resistance, and pollution,” declared Gretchen Goldman, president of the association.

Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor’s office has concluded that certain of the layoffs were illegal, requiring that some of the employees be reinstated with back pay. Nevertheless, the damage is extensive, and the threat that many species will be forgotten is real.