The Wildlife Society stands with our members and colleagues affected by recent federal workforce reductions. We recognize the critical role federal employees play in wildlife conservation and understand the challenges these changes bring. TWS is committed to advocating for you and providing resources to support your professional and personal well-being during this time. Below, you’ll find information on membership extensions, career opportunities, policy engagement and more. You are a valued part of our community, and we are here to help.
Image Credit: Lauren Martucci
Complimentary Membership Extension
TWS realizes this situation has created undue economic stress and uncertainty for our members subjected to these terminations. If you are a federal employee affected by these actions, TWS will extend your membership for six months free of charge. In addition, recently terminated federal employees that are not current members may receive a free, six-month membership. Email membership@wildlife.org to take advantage of this offer.
Updating your contact information
If you know TWS members who lost access to their federal email, please encourage them to email membership@wildlife.org or login to their member portal to update their contact information.
Latest TWS News
- March 20: NEPA loses its regs – Recently, the Council on Environmental Quality posted an interim final rule removing existing regulations for implementing NEPA
- March 14: Retired wildlife leaders decry firings as ‘existential threat’ – Former leaders warn that firings will cause widespread and long-lasting consequences for wildlife management across North America
- March 6: What the DOGE is happening? – A detailed breakdown of executive orders impacting the wildlife profession.
- Feb. 27: Professional societies issue joint statement on federal workforce – TWS joins AFS, SAF and SRM in support of federal employees.
- Feb. 18: TWS joins pledge in the face of declining public trust in science – The letter emphasizes the critical importance of unbiased scientific research, freedom from censorship and policies based in research and data.
Credit: Jennifer Murphy
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Other or Related News
- March 12: Cutting ‘boots-on-the-ground, getting-it-done stuff’ could harm the West’s fish and wildlife for decades, from High Country News
- March 11: As Trump Attempts to Reform Federal Government, Hunters and Anglers Face ‘Unintended Consequences’, from Outdoor Life
Credit: Deirdre Denali Rosenberg
How to take action
Contacting your Congressional representatives is a great way to support your colleagues. Use our Policy Toolkit to get started.
- Please consider writing an opinion editorial.
- Support wildlife conservation by calling your elected officials: TWS conservation policy manager Kelly O’Connor shares how simple it is to contact your elected officials in this Instagram reel.
- Use our call script, which you may use or adapt to make calls as easy as possible.
- Members interested in policy engagement can access more resources via the Conservation Affairs Network. If you’re a TWS Chapter or Section member, join your unit’s Conservation Affairs Committee and take action!
Job resources
Job openings
We encourage folks to watch our Job Board and sign up for notices of new positions. We also plan to highlight opportunities available from our partner organizations like the National Wildlife Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, the National Association of University Fisheries and Wildlife Programs and others in TWS Weekly.
Resumes, CV resources and more
Credit: Terry Shelton
Credit: Ana Sapp
Wildlife Vocalizations Lost
Wildlife Vocalizations Lost is a series about how federal job loss in the wildlife profession may impact conservation and wildlife management. It’s a part of our regular series, Wildlife Vocalizations, which is a collection of short personal perspectives from people in the field of wildlife sciences. Learn more about Wildlife Vocalizations, and read other contributions here and here.
Submit your story for Wildlife Vocalizations or nominate your peers and colleagues to encourage them to share their story. For questions, please contact tws@wildlife.org.
Webinars
Upcoming
- Resume Writing for Federal Employees in Transition: March 14, March 28 and April 18 – Montgomery County Public Libraries
Past recordings
- Mental Health in Natural Resources – The Wildlife Society
- Building Effective CVs & Resumes – The Wildlife Society
- Employment Insecurity: Planning for Next Steps – American Fisheries Society
Credit: Brilyn Nicholson
Resources from Congressional Representatives*
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (MD): Resources for Marylanders
Sen. Ben Ray Luján (NM): Resources for Federal Employees
Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD): Resources for Marylanders Affected by Trump Administration Policies
*The information above is provided for informational purposes only and has been pulled from the executive branch agencies mentioned above. These tips are meant to give a general overview of the legal rights of federal employees as outlined by executive branch agencies tasked with protecting those rights, such as the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The information outlined on this website should not be interpreted as legal advice on any subject matter. For legal advice, speak with an attorney or if you are in a bargaining unit, refer to your union.
