Federal Cuts Devastate Greater Yellowstone Conservation Workforce – “The Valentine’s Day Massacre”

What we’re looking at is a long-term deterioration of what we love. And once we lose it, and the degradation happens, it will be hard to reverse.”

Federal land management cuts have slashed workforce by significant percentages across agencies, imperiling Greater Yellowstone.

“Nobody can plan anything, because no one knows if the funding will still be there.”

The Trump administration’s establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in January 2025 led to massive firings and budget freezes that have profoundly disrupted stewardship of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. These structural shifts undermine decades of collaborative conservation efforts across Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.

By September 2025, the Forest Service lost 16% of its workforce, the National Park Service 24%, and the Bureau of Land Management over 32%. Key programs such as the National Carnivore Program were defunded by May 2025, and trail maintenance in Bridger-Teton National Forest dropped to its lowest level in 15 years. A tribal Fish and Wildlife office faced closure attempts but remains open due to tribal advocacy. Meanwhile, Montana saw $75 million in federal conservation easement grants canceled in 2025, which may affect private land conservation amid rising costs.

Uncertainty persists over future funding and staffing, with tribal groups continuing efforts to protect their lands and public calls for volunteer stewardship growing.

Given Montana’s vast public and tribal lands, these federal cutbacks could significantly hinder local conservation and land use practices, especially where ecosystem health depends on federal support. The state’s rural economies and outdoor industries might increasingly feel the strain from diminished management and research capacity.

By Christine Peterson, High Country News