Acting Fish and Wildlife official pressed on staff cuts, office closures and program continuity

Members of the House Natural Resources subcommittee questioned Dave Maiko, acting deputy director for operations at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, about personnel changes, proposed field office closures and possible effects on program delivery.

Several members said the Department of the Interior and the Service had carried out large-scale terminations and that field offices faced planned closures. In her questioning, Rep. [Elfreth] said the subcommittee had been told the Service fired about 400 employees in February and that the administration proposed closing 50 field offices; another member said courts ordered reinstatements after some firings. Rep. Jared Huffman and others framed the topic as an oversight concern about whether the Service can meet statutory duties with a reduced and reorganized workforce.

Maiko emphasized the dedication of agency staff and said the Service is "working hard to implement the desires of the administration to lean into becoming a more effective and efficient organization." He said the agency has followed court orders to reinstate employees where applicable. On specific numerical counts and details about human-resources actions, Maiko said he did not have complete information and offered to follow up in writing. "I've not been involved in those conversations," Maiko said when asked about certain restructuring plans.

Members raised programmatic concerns. Congresswoman Dingle and others asked how disruptions affect the Great Lakes sea lamprey control program and whether staffing gaps would delay treatment cycles. Maiko replied that the Service is "in the process of hiring our seasonal employees to institute the sea lamprey control program" and said the agency was working with partners and looking to meet treatment goals, but provided no firm confirmation on schedule risk.

Members also asked about permitting delays and whether terminations and office closures would slow environmental permitting required by law for endangered species and habitat protections. Maiko said he could not provide details on permitting timing at the hearing and agreed to follow up in writing.

The committee submitted additional questions for the record and asked the agency for clarifications on personnel counts, details of the planned field office closures, the status of reinstated employees and HR guidance on probationary status, and specific impacts to programs such as lamprey control and invasive species rapid-response work.