When the Trump administration began freezing federal funding for climate and ecosystem research, one of the programs hit hard was ours: the U.S. Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers.These nine regional centers help fish, wildlife, water, land – and, importantly, people – adapt to rising global temperatures and other climate shifts.The centers have been helping to track invasive species, protect water supplies and make agriculture more sustainable in the face of increasing drought conditions. They’re improving wildfire forecasting, protecting shorelines and saving Alaska salmon, among many other projects.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAll of this work happens through partnerships: Scientists, many of them affiliated with universities, team up with public and private resource managers – the people who manage water supplies, wildlands, recreation areas, shorelines and other natural resources – to develop the research and solutions those managers need.The Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center has been tracking invasive species to help natural resource managers prepare. Federally funded scientists develop risk maps and work with local communities to head off invasive species damage. Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Network, CC BYBut in spring 2025, after 15 years of operation of the centers, the president’s proposed federal budget zeroed out funding for them. Federal workers at the centers were threatened with layoffs.Three of the nine regional centers – covering the South Central, Pacific Islands and Northeast regions – were left unfunded when the Office of Management and Budget withheld and then blocked funds Congress had already appropriated.In spite of these challenges, we have hope that the work will eventually continue. Congress’ proposed budgets in both the U.S. House and Senate recommend fully funding the Climate Adaptation Science Centers, and there’s a reason: Natural resources managers and the public have consistently told their elected officials that the work is important.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere are three examples of projects in regions where funding has been blocked that show why resource managers are speaking up.Sustainable water supplies in arid landsIn south-central Texas, the Edwards Aquifer Authority is responsible for providing sustained water resources for 2.5 million people in cities such as San Antonio and Uvalde. It also maintains the groundwater-fed springs that support threatened and endangered species.In recent decades, however, both heavy rainfall and prolonged, intense droughts have increased uncertainty ab …
