PORTLAND, Ore.— According to new information obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has lost 36% of its staff under the Trump administration, dropping from 9,957 to 6,333 total staff between 2024 and 2026.

“These staff cuts are a cruel disaster for America’s endangered species and wildlife refuges,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species codirector at the Center. “The spite and incompetence of DOGE and the Trump administration may cost us amazing and beloved wildlife like hellbenders and monarch butterflies.”

More than 400 species are waiting for protection decisions, including hellbenders and monarchs. Despite that backlog, the second Trump administration has protected just three species in nearly two years — by far the lowest rate of species protection of any administration. Likewise, national wildlife refuges that were already under-staffed are being severely neglected, harming wildlife and their habitats.

The Center obtained staff rosters for the Service for 2024 to 2026 through the Freedom of Information Act. The 36% loss of staff is double what the Center reported last year. That increase likely reflects staff who accepted early retirement offers in the spring of 2025 but who were still paid through the end of September and thus still found on last year’s roster.

The Service lost more than 1,900 scientists, including fish and wildlife biologists, foresters and fire managers.

“This brain drain will be hard to undo now that the Fish and Wildlife Service has lost so many expert scientists who helped save endangered animals and plants,” said Greenwald. “Americans overwhelmingly want to see our wildlife healthy and flourishing, but the Trump administration has made it clear that its goal is the exact opposite.”

Further information on staff losses broken down by state or region is available on request.