TAKE ACTION- Refuge System Budget Cuts Proposed—Urge Congress To Fully Fund Refuges

America's national wildlife refuges are in crisis. Our national wildlife refuges are essential for protecting biodiversity, providing community-driven conservation, and expanding wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities nationwide. Since January, the staffing of the Refuge System has declined by approx. 25%. This is on top of the loss of 30% of staff since 2010—the Refuge System now has half the staff it had 15 years ago.

Cartoon by USFWS illustrator Kent Olson

Now, the President's 2026 budget proposes a 22% cut to the Refuge System—a system already stretched thin. Reducing the Refuge System's budget from its current $527 million (2025) to just $412 million—a number not seen since the early 2000s, means a funding loss of over $319 million (compared to the 2010 budget) due to inflation. Help protect these vital public lands by asking Congress to invest in our refuges.

The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's largest network of protected land and waters dedicated to wildlife conservation, yet only receives a fraction of what other public land agencies receive. 

Ask Congress to Invest in Refuges