Michael Sainato, The Guardian - Donald Trump’s blitz on federal science agencies has increased the risk of endangered species going extinct, fired government experts have warned.The new administration, and its so-called “department of government efficiency”, led by the billionaire Elon Musk, has fired thousands of employees at science agencies, with funding halted at the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
Nick Gladstone, a cave biologist for nearly a decade, was a lead recovery biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service for 15 federally endangered cave and subterranean invertebrates – including rare beetles and spiders – in central Texas. He is one of more than 400 probationary employees fired at the agency this month. “Without my position filled, these species will be neglected for years to come,” Gladstone said. He said his firing left these species, among the most at risk under the Endangered Species Act, in particular danger due to the difficulty in finding and protecting them as their habitats face threats from development....
Staffers in charge of recovery for the endangered black-footed ferret have also been fired by the Trump administration, among other scientists, and funds for recovery have been frozen. More
No comments:
Post a Comment