Black-footed ferrets, sea turtles, and African elephants have a few things in common. They’re (1) adorable, (2) classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, and (3) still with us thanks to the efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

USFWS works to conserve fish, wildlife, plants, and natural resources across the country and around the world. In addition to protecting more than 1,600 species under the Endangered Species Act, they manage nearly 600 National Wildlife Refuges, 70 national fish hatcheries, and thousands of conservation projects.

With around 8,000 employees, they’re the very definition of “small but mighty”—and they do a lot more for the average American than you may initially think.

Consider the pollinators that guarantee our food supply; the forests and grasslands that sequester carbon dioxide; the marine species that keep water treatment costs down by naturally filtering our rivers and streams; even the rare, undiscovered plants that could be key to future medical breakthroughs.

The USFWS works alongside local communities and tribes to conserve these critically important species, which in turn support human life. It’s safe to say that we would not be able to enjoy clean air, clean water, or even food on the table without their efforts.

Surely such an important, short-staffed, and underfunded agency would be spared from Trump and DOGE’s reign of terror, right?

Of course not!

Over the course of January and February, the USFWS lost nearly 10% of its staffers. 300 employees accepted the administration’s resignation offer, and another 420 were laid off in the sweeping Valentine’s Day staffing cuts. When each team is so small and specialized, the loss of even a single worker and their expertise is devastating.

While the federal courts have once again come to the rescue, ruling that USFWS employees be reinstated with backpay, there is no guarantee that these jobs will survive the next round of cuts. The USFWS-issued conservation grants that so many international partners rely on are also still on ice, hindering important projects and imperiling endangered species around the world.

Regardless of what the federal government does going forward, USFWS will continue to protect the ecosystems that support our survival, build bridges between communities and nature, and stand as a pillar of global wildlife conservation.

Let’s stand up for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service!STAND UP FOR THE FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE!