MAINE MONITOR • January 9, 2026
National wildlife refuges have played an important role in American conservation efforts for over a century. Late last month, as many people were winding down for the holidays, the Trump administration quietly announced a “comprehensive review” of both the National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Fish Hatchery System. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director Brian Nesvik ordered top agency officials to “look for refuges or hatcheries established for a purpose that no longer aligns with the mission” of the agency, and for “opportunities to achieve efficiencies in the areas of governance, oversight, and span of control.” The directive was not announced publicly by the agency, and few details have been released. Advocates fear the administration is trying to eliminate or significantly scale back wildlife preservation sites.