Bicameral group of Members urge Trump administration to restore funding for Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups, abrupt cancelation of $1.285 million for WA state jeopardizes dozens of active habitat restoration projects across the state
Quotes from all 14 Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups across Washington state HERE
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (D, WA-02) led Washington state’s Democratic Congressional delegation—Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Representatives Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-03), Emily Randall (D, WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Kim Schrier (D, WA-08), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10)—in a recent letter to Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, urging him to reverse the Trump administration’s disastrous decision to eliminate funding for Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs). This decision is a blow to widely supported salmon recovery and habitat restoration efforts, and undermines longstanding Tribal partnerships built over many years.
Through her leadership on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray has secured millions of dollars in funding for RFEGs in Washington state over the past several years. RFEGs represent a unique model to engage local communities in salmon recovery through hands-on habitat restoration, public outreach, and partnerships with tribal, federal, state, and private entities. Operating as fourteen independent entities across Washington state, these groups sponsor some of the largest, most complex habitat projects focused on specific geographic regions, allowing them to tailor projects to local needs while contributing to a statewide coordinated salmon recovery strategy. Quotes from RFEGs across Washington state about the impact of the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate funding are collected HERE.
“We write to express our deep concern regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) elimination of $1,285,000 of Fiscal Year 2025 funding for Washington state’s Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs). This widely supported program is a critical component of community-driven salmon recovery efforts, creating thousands of jobs and spurring millions of dollars in economic development across all corners of our state. Your decision to cut funding undermines longstanding partnerships and progress that have been built over many years, the bicameral group of Members wrote. “We urge you to disburse this previously appropriated funding immediately to prevent disruption to critical recovery and restoration projects.”
“Elimination of federal RFEGs funding has had immediate consequences for salmon recovery efforts throughout Washington state,” the Members continued. “Without this support, dozens of active habitat restoration projects will be delayed, scaled back, or abandoned entirely, jeopardizing critical work to reopen fish passage, improve spawning and rearing habitat, and restore degraded stream systems. The loss of federal funding also threatens to destabilize longstanding partnerships between tribes, private landowners, and state agencies that have been central to the program’s success. Many RFEGs rely on federal funds as core operational support that enable them to leverage additional resources. Without this foundation, the capacity to plan, coordinate and execute complex restoration projects will be drastically diminished.”
“We urge you to immediately reverse the decision to terminate funding for the RFEG Program and ensure continued federal support,” the group of Members wrote. The Members concluded by requesting answers to a list of detailed questions regarding the elimination of RFEG funding by August 8th—the Department still has not responded.
The full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
Dear Secretary Burgum,
We write to express our deep concern regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) elimination of $1,285,000 of Fiscal Year 2025 funding for Washington state’s Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs). This widely supported program is a critical component of community-driven salmon recovery efforts, creating thousands of jobs and spurring millions of dollars in economic development across all corners of our state. Your decision to cut funding undermines longstanding partnerships and progress that have been built over many years. As members of the Washington state Congressional Delegation, we urge you to disburse this previously appropriated funding immediately to prevent disruption to critical recovery and restoration projects.
RFEGs represent a unique model, rooted in local knowledge and leadership, to engage local communities in salmon recovery through hands-on habitat restoration, public outreach, and partnerships with tribal, federal, state, and private entities. Operating as fourteen independent entities across our state, these groups sponsor some of the largest, most complex habitat projects focused on specific geographic regions, allowing them to tailor projects to local needs while contributing to a statewide coordinated salmon recovery strategy.
Salmon recovery brings clear benefits to communities, including cleaner water, reduced flooding, more productive farmland, healthier forests and shorelines, and access to fishing and outdoor recreation. Over the last 30 years, RFEGs have completed nearly 5,000 salmon restoration projects in Washington state. These efforts include removing 1,071 barriers to fish passage, reopening 1,520 miles of stream, and restoring 2,457 miles of habitat. This work spurs critical economic development across our state by creating engineering, contracting, and construction jobs which in turn support a strong and sustainable fishing industry that generates significant economic benefits in rural communities. For example, in Washington state recreational salmon harvesting is responsible for nearly 23,000 jobs and more than $1 billion is spent on recreational fishing equipment and trips annually.
Elimination of federal RFEGs funding has had immediate consequences for salmon recovery efforts throughout Washington state. Without this support, dozens of active habitat restoration projects will be delayed, scaled back, or abandoned entirely, jeopardizing critical work to reopen fish passage, improve spawning and rearing habitat, and restore degraded stream systems. The loss of federal funding also threatens to destabilize longstanding partnerships between tribes, private landowners, and state agencies that have been central to the program’s success. RFEGs rely on federal funds as core operational support that enable them to leverage additional resources, often achieving an eight to one match. Without this foundation, the capacity to plan, coordinate and execute complex restoration projects will be drastically diminished.
Moreover, the decision undermines federal government trust responsibilities to tribes, which include honoring treaty rights and supporting the recovery of culturally and ecologically significant species like salmon. These responsibilities require sustained, science-based efforts to restore salmon populations and their habitats. Fulfilling these obligations also aligns with compliance under the Endangered Species Act. Beyond restoration, RFEGs provide invaluable hands-on education opportunities for local schools, youth organizations, and community members. These experiences not only engage the next generation of conservation leaders but foster broad-based public support for habitat protection. Community-driven conservation efforts are among the most effective to achieve durable, sustainable outcomes because they are rooted in local expertise, reduce administrative overhead, and allow projects to move forward quickly and efficiently.
Given the consequences of your department’s decision, we request additional information, provided no later than August 8, 2025, regarding the elimination of this funding.
- Which tribes were consulted prior to the decision to eliminate funding for the RFEG program?
- Which stakeholders, including state agencies, and local partners were consulted prior to the decision to eliminate funding for the RFEG program?
- What analysis was conducted to assess the potential economic impacts to local communities, including rural economies that depend on salmon recovery efforts, before making this funding decision?
- What consideration was given to federal obligations under the Endangered Species Act prior to eliminating this funding?
- Are similar habitat restoration programs or comparable community-driven conservation efforts in other states continuing to receive federal funding? If so, what criteria were used to determine which programs to sustain and which to eliminate?
- How does your department plan to ensure the continuity of salmon recovery efforts currently supported by RFEGs?
We urge you to immediately reverse the decision to terminate funding for the RFEG Program and ensure continued federal support. We stand ready to work with you to identify solutions that uphold federal commitments and preserve Washington’s iconic salmon culture and economy for future generations.
Sincerely,
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