Coleman National Fish Hatchery Part Of White House Flurry Of Firings

The Trump administration’s purge of several federal agencies has taken a toll on those organizations that focus on outdoor recreation and conservation. One such personnel transition has impacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife-led Coleman National Fish Hatchery.

Here’s more from Redding’s ABC affiliate, KRCR:

A visit to the hatchery, located east of Cottonwood, revealed that phone calls to the facility went unanswered, and attempts to reach the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sacramento office were unsuccessful.

It was disclosed that two full-time employees have been terminated, with the possibility of further cuts looming. The hatchery currently employs 26 people, with eight positions remaining unfilled. The recent layoffs have left two workers without jobs.

The Golden State Salmon Association had this to say on its Facebook page:

Coleman National Fish Hatchery has laid off two workers due to government efficiency measures, with more job cuts potentially on the way. Amid historically low salmon returns in the #SacramentoRiver, there is growing concern that these cuts will further harm the already declining salmon population. Meanwhile, Newsom’s prized Sites Reservoir received $200 million in funding last week, while salmon #hatchery employees are being laid off, highlighting the Trump and Newsom administration’s clear stance on California’s #salmon. This move aligns with the “People Over Fish” executive order issued on January 20, 2025.

The Center for Biological Diversity also weighed on the nationwide dismissals at USFWS:

Mass Firings at Fish and Wildlife Service Hurting Endangered Species Across U.S.

WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity filed Freedom of Information requests late Tuesday with every region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The filings aim to get a fuller picture of how mass firings, a hiring freeze and contract cancellations are damaging work to manage national wildlife refuges and save endangered species like the spotted owl.

“Musk is squandering America’s natural heritage by dismantling the Fish and Wildlife Service’s ability to save endangered animals like spotted owls and Florida manatees,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center. “We’re filing these requests to document every single endangered species and national wildlife refuge that’s put at risk by the Musk team’s cruel and destructive actions.”

The dangerous effects on endangered species of mass firings by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, are coming into focus. The Center learned last week from a scientist that surveys for northern spotted owls will not occur this year because of the hiring freeze. These surveys are critical to ensuring these cherished owls don’t go extinct.

News reports have also started to reveal the harms caused by firing national wildlife refuges employees critical to beloved endangered species. These include the loss of two staff members at the Crystal National Wildlife Refuge, which is hampering efforts to help the beloved Florida manatee, and the loss of five staff members at Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge on Hawai?i, which has jeopardized critical work to cultivate endangered native plants and remove invasive species for the benefit of some of the Big Island’s critically endangered honeycreepers.

“Scientists warn that we’re in an extinction crisis, and we ignore that at our own peril,” said Greenwald. “As America’s wildlife dwindles, Elon Musk is swinging his wrecking ball at the skilled and dedicated people fighting to save our plants and animals from extinction. It’s beyond idiotic.”