An Agency in Peril: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Has Lost Over a Third of Its Staff

September 3, 2026

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has lost 36% of its workforce—about 3,600 employees, including 1,900 scientists—since 2024 due to early retirements, resignation incentives, and firings tied to the Department of Government Efficiency under the second Trump Administration. Critics warn this “brain drain” threatens endangered species protection, noting the agency now manages vast public lands while the administration has protected only three species in nearly two years and delayed decisions on hundreds more. Gear Junkie