Government Cuts Leave Wisconsin Scientists Seeking New Careers

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Traci DuBose, a research fish biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, had just started her dream job when she was unexpectedly terminated last month. After relocating 600 miles to Wisconsin last summer, DuBose, along with several colleagues, was dismissed as part of a wave of federal government job cuts.

The firings at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center in La Crosse mistakenly listed DuBose and others as employees in Indianapolis, a significant error given their critical work on freshwater mussels and invasive species in the Mississippi River. The center employs about 90 individuals and has long contributed vital research that informs land management decisions across multiple states.

According to former employees, the recent terminations could severely hinder ongoing research efforts on a river ecosystem that is already changing rapidly due to climate change and other human activities. ‘It will slow the pace of research on the Mississippi River, which is undergoing significant ecological changes,’ DuBose said.

The firings were part of broader federal employment reductions under President Donald Trump‘s administration, which aimed to cut the size of government. These actions resulted in the dismissal of approximately 2,300 probationary employees, including those with the USGS.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the USGS, declined to discuss specific terminations, stating the department is focused on fiscal responsibility. DuBose’s termination notice cited her failure to meet “the Department’s current needs,” which she found perplexing after her dedicated efforts on habitat restoration projects.

Tyler Butts, another scientist fired from the center, expressed dismay at the impact of the firings. He had recently begun a project analyzing the movement of invasive carp in the Mississippi River with the goal of mitigating their destructive effects on local ecosystems. ‘It’s devastating,’ said Butts, who also received a termination notice with the same incorrect location reference.

Concerns are growing that the responsibilities of the laid-off workers will fall on remaining scientists already managing multiple projects. ‘It’s not just about the jobs,’ Butts added. ‘It’s about the integrity and the continuity of research that supports governance of our natural resources.’

Recent firings in other federal departments across Wisconsin add to the impact on scientific research within the state. Several employees from the U.S. Forest Service and the National Institutes of Health were also let go, exacerbating concerns about the future of environmental research funding.

Before the firings, DuBose, who is now five months pregnant, was seeking to secure her future in a field she is passionate about. ‘I aim to find a job that continues my work in science while accommodating my impending motherhood,’ she said. But she noted many positions she qualifies for would require extensive fieldwork during her scheduled due date.

Butts, too, is unsure of his next steps and is exploring options that may not allow him to stay in La Crosse. Both former employees lamented the loss of their efforts to address significant ecological threats. Butts summarized the sentiment of those affected, stating, ‘It’s not time to pull back from science; it’s time to invest in it.’