1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my grave concern over the proposed elimination of funding for the U.S. Geological Survey's Bee Lab, housed within the Ecosystem Mission Area at the Eastern Ecological Science Center. This critically important program plays an indispensable role in monitoring and conserving native bee populations across the United States. While the European honey bee contributes to agricultural pollination, our nation's approximately 3,900 native bee species are essential for pollinating both crops and wild plants. However, alarming declines have been observed in both honey bees and native bees due to environmental pressures. Without robust monitoring efforts like those carried out by the USGS Bee Lab, we risk losing the ability to track native bee populations, understand the causes of their declines, and implement effective conservation measures. The Bee Lab has produced the most extensive dataset on native bee occurrences in the U.S. over the past two decades. This data has informed thousands of scientific studies and is vital for maintaining agricultural productivity, preserving biodiversity, and protecting our nation's ecological security from invasive species threats. Remarkably, over half of our native bee species lack complete distribution data, and more than 20% have not been documented in over 25 years. Closing the Bee Lab would exacerbate these knowledge gaps and hinder efforts to conserve at-risk species. Moreover, the Bee Lab plays a crucial role in training the next generation of bee experts, providing essential resources and guidance to researchers, students, landowners, and the public. Their work has raised awareness about pollinator conservation and inspired countless individuals through seminars, interviews, and innovative photography techniques. No other entity offers comparable technical support, data stewardship, and outreach for native bees and other arthropods. The Bee Lab is truly irreplaceable. For the sake of our nation's ecological health, food security, and scientific leadership, I implore you to maintain full funding for this vital program within the Ecosystem Mission Area. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.