Defend USGS Ecosystems Mission Area - Stand with Science

Today I’m writing to urge you to oppose the continued war on science and the proposed elimination of the Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) within the U.S. Geological Survey. The proposed elimination of the EMA poses a severe threat to vital federal research on bees, pollinators, and ecosystems across the country. The EMA's work is essential for understanding pollinator health and decline, setting sustainable hunting limits, managing wildlife and invasive species, and tracking environmental changes and disease outbreaks. Knowledge of our pollinator ecosystem is crucial to maintaining agriculture, Dismantling this division would undermine irreplaceable programs and expertise that states, federal agencies, and nonprofits rely upon for consistent data, guidance, and long-term monitoring efforts. Specifically concerning is the potential closure of the USGS Bee Lab, which serves as the nation's foremost authority on identifying and studying native bee species. With over 700,000 specimens and unparalleled expertise, this lab is crucial for accurately assessing bee populations, distinguishing at-risk species from those that are simply hard to find, and informing science-based conservation measures. Losing this resource would severely impair our ability to understand and protect these vital pollinators, upon which our ecosystems and agricultural productivity depend. The EMA plays an indispensable role in the country's scientific infrastructure by providing foundational research that informs natural resource management and environmental policy across agencies and sectors. Cutting this division based on budgetary or ideological grounds reflects a fundamental disregard for scientific integrity and evidence-based decision-making. I urge you to defend the EMA's critical mission by maintaining full funding and opposing any and all attempts to dismantle this essential component of federal environmental science. Thank you.