Inside Washington

National Wildlife Refuge Association Welcomes Brian Nesvik As Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

National Wildlife Refuge Association Welcomes Brian Nesvik As Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The National Wildlife Refuge Association congratulates Brian Nesvik on his confirmation as Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). With deep roots in the conservation and wildlife management community, including service as a game warden and decades-long commitment to field-based stewardship, Director Nesvik brings practical experience and an understanding of America’s sporting and conservation heritage to the role.

House Funding Bill Chips Away at National Wildlife Refuges with Deep Cuts & Damaging Riders

House Funding Bill Chips Away at National Wildlife Refuges with Deep Cuts & Damaging Riders

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee advanced its Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies spending bill— and while it wasn’t the slash-and-burn bill the President had proposed, it would still deliver a severe setback to the National Wildlife Refuge System. The bill proposes a $22 million cut to Refuge System operations and includes a range of dangerous policy riders that would undermine wildlife conservation across the country. On a good note, the bill maintains funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, one of the most important tools for land acquisition.