The USGS Bee Lab is at risk of being permanently closed

The USGS Bee Lab is at risk of being permanently closed due to cuts in the 2026 Federal Budget (FY2026). We’re deeply alarmed by the proposed elimination of the USGS Bee Lab—a move that threatens pollinator science, food security, and biodiversity across the country. As a community rooted in pollinator advocacy, we believe this decision is not only short-sighted but dangerous.

🐝 What Is the USGS Bee Lab?

The USGS Bee Lab, led by biologist Sam Droege, is the only federal program dedicated to identifying and monitoring the 4,000+ native bee species in the U.S. It provides critical data for farmers, land managers, and researchers, helping us understand pollinator populations, habitat needs, and threats like pesticides and climate change. It is housed under the United States Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of Interior.

🚨 What’s Happening?

The Trump administration’s proposed FY2026 budget eliminates the entire $307 million Ecosystems Mission Area of the USGS, which funds the Bee Lab. Staff have been warned of layoffs, grants are frozen, and specimens are being packed away to avoid loss.

🌎 Why This Matters

• Pollinators are essential: Native bees pollinate 75% of flowering plants, including many fruits and vegetables. Their global economic value is estimated at $3 trillion.

• No replacement exists: The Bee Lab is the only federal entity with the expertise to identify native bees. Losing it means losing decades of irreplaceable knowledge.

• Food security is at risk: With honeybee colonies declining by 60–70% in 2025, native bees are more important than ever .

• Local impact: In Washington State, native pollinators are vital for crops like apples, berries, and seed crops. Without research support, our farmers and ecosystems will suffer.

✉️ Take Action Now

We urge you to contact your elected officials and demand restoration of funding for the USGS Bee Lab.

Sample Email:

Subject: Restore Funding for the USGS Bee Lab

Dear [Senator/Representative],

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed elimination of funding for the USGS Bee Lab. This lab plays a critical role in monitoring and protecting native pollinators, which are essential to our food systems and ecosystems.

With pollinator populations in decline, now is not the time to cut vital research. I urge you to support the restoration of funding for the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area and the Bee Lab.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your City, State]

📬 Contact Your Representatives

Senator Patty Murray
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Email: Contact Form

Senator Maria Cantwell
Phone: (202) 224-3441
Email: Contact Form

Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3)
Phone: (202) 225-3536
Email: Contact Form

Contact the White House:
Mail a handwritten or typed letter to The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500.

Dial 202-456-1111 to leave a message for the President.

Use the White House Contact Page to send a message to the President using their online form.

Call The White House Comment Line on 202-456-1414 to voice opinions on issues facing America.

Visit the White House Facebook page and leave comments via Messenger.

🐝 Let’s Keep Buzzing

We cannot afford to lose the only federal lab dedicated to native bee research. The stakes are too high—for our food, our farmers, and our future.

Please share this post and speak up today.

#SaveTheBeeLab #PollinatorsMatter #VancouverBeeProject #BeeAdvocacy #ProtectOurPollinators #WA03 #WAleg #BeeLab