WASHINGTON— Court documents filed today reveal that the Trump administration intends to fire dozens of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff who play critical roles in securing a future for endangered species and migratory birds across the country. The firings are part of a larger move to cut more than 2,000 jobs at the Interior Department.

Fish and Wildlife employees proposed to be fired include 37 from the Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program, 35 from the Migratory Bird Program, 23 from the National Wildlife Refuge System, 14 from the Office of Conservation Investment, 14 from Ecological Services, eight from the Regional Directors Office and one from the Office of Law Enforcement.

The firings are being pushed by the Trump administration as a response to the government shutdown. The documents were filed in a suit brought by unions representing government employees, who have obtained a temporary restraining order halting the firings, at least for now.

“The Trump administration’s extremely short-sighted effort to gut the Fish and Wildlife Service will throw gasoline on the raging fire that is the extinction crisis,” said Tara Zuardo, a senior campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “We’ve lost 3 billion birds since 1970 yet the administration is slashing funding for migratory birds. It’s incredibly cynical to cut programs that help struggling fish and other aquatic animals and assist landowners in conserving endangered species habitats. This is just really sad and troubling.”

The cuts will deliver devastating blows to programs put in place to protect, restore and conserve bird populations and their habitats. The cut programs also help connect people with nature, support wildlife and habitat conservation, support the National Wildlife Refuge System and more. Court disclosures also report severe cuts to additional agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Geological Survey and others.

The restraining order appears to be keeping the administration from moving forward with eliminating these positions during the shutdown, but they can try to continue moving ahead with these layoffs in the future.