U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Launches Review of the National Wildlife Refuge & Fish Hatchery Systems: What We Know and How to Engage
Dear Friends, Partners, and Community Members,
On December 16, 2025, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a review of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Fish Hatchery System.
Two leaders were appointed to oversee this review:
Joshua Coursey, Senior Advisor, for the Refuge System
David Miko, Acting Deputy Director for Operations, for the Fish Hatchery System
As part of this review, FWS will gather feedback from:
State and Tribal fish and wildlife agencies
Non-government partners, including Refuge Friends groups with partnership agreements
Organizations that have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USFWS
These organizations will receive a survey in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your continued support of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Fish Hatchery System.
Want to share feedback?
If your organization does not have an MOU with USFWS—or if you are an individual who would like to share feedback by email—please contact us. We will provide information on where to send your comments.
Contact us for submission info Or email: etaylor@refugeassociation.org
What the Review Will Look At
The review will focus on these key areas:
Whether the missions of refuges and hatcheries still match the overall mission of USFWS
Whether the current organizational structure helps or hinders meeting those missions
Available funding and staffing levels
Staff ability to work with local communities and State and Tribal wildlife agencies
Whether policies and guidance are clear, consistent, and transparent
The condition of buildings and infrastructure, including maintenance needs
Ways to improve efficiency in management, oversight, and decision-making
