Recent U.S. government policy changes are severely impacting environmental programs, with dire consequences for turtle conservation.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has influenced the Office of Personnel Management to enact layoffs affecting thousands of federal employees across multiple agencies, including those essential for biodiversity conservation efforts. In early February 2025, thousands of employees at the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), among many other federal government entities, were laid off.

Amid these layoffs, drastic funding cuts have been made to key environmental programs. Notably, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is at risk. Approved by Congress in 1973, the ESA governs the management of threatened and endangered species and has been a cornerstone of conservation in the United States. It has played a crucial role in preventing extinctions and promoting the recovery of species, including the Bald Eagle. Currently, the ESA protects 22 turtle and tortoise species native to the U.S., prohibiting their collection and trade while implementing plans for their protection and recovery. Additionally, it regulates the exploitation of numerous non-native species involving the United States or its citizens. The freeze on all federal support for overseas humanitarian, environmental, and other assistance—including USAID and FWS’s international programs—has crippled conservation projects aimed at protecting turtles, tigers, elephants, songbirds, and other irreplaceable species. Turtle Conservancy will lose approximately $20,000 in USFW grants needed to protect turtles as a result of these budget cuts.

At the same time, a National Energy Emergency declaration has prioritized the exploitation of domestic energy resources. As part of this initiative, a $37 million project to construct an oil pipeline in Louisiana threatens approximately 234 acres of wetland habitat. The southeastern U.S. is one of the world's hotspots for turtle diversity, with wetlands providing essential habitat for dozens of unique turtle species. These projects are being fast-tracked, leaving little time to assess their environmental impact, potentially putting already declining turtle populations at even greater risk.

With federal environmental agencies already underfunded, widespread layoffs, budget cuts, and large-scale energy initiatives pose a severe threat to the protection of the nation’s diverse habitats and species. Failing to safeguard our environment and wildlife erodes people’s quality of life and ultimately impacts human health as well.

“These orders will make our air dirtier, make people sicker, make energy more expensive, and make our communities less prepared for extreme weather,” wrote Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist, policy expert, and author who co-founded the nonprofit think tank Urban Ocean Lab.

Now more than ever, conservationists, scientists, and concerned citizens must take action—whether through advocacy, education, or policy engagement—to protect our natural world before these harmful shifts become irreversible.

Sources: The White House, Inside Climate News