The Ornithological Council recently submitted written testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Interior Appropriations Subcommittee regarding the Fiscal Year 2027 budget for the U.S. Geological Survey. The testimony focused on the administration’s proposal to eliminate the Ecosystem Mission Area from next year’s budget.
The OC highlighted the Ecosystems Mission Area program area’s crucial role in providing scientific research and decision-support tools that benefit public safety, environmental health, natural resource management, and public health, and emphasizes that the program’s interdisciplinary science underpins national strategies to respond to environmental and ecological challenges.
In particular, the letter explained the value of long-standing USGS Species Management Research Program initiatives such as the Bird Banding Laboratory and the Breeding Bird Survey, which provide the primary long-term data on the abundance and distribution of avian species in North America
In early April, the administration released its proposed budget for FY2027, which would reduce funding for many programs and offices related to ornithological science and research.