Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, and Japanese American Citizens League, sued Elon Musk and DOGE over the devastating firing of federal workers. Campaign Legal Center is representing all four groups. Sierra Club's Environmental Law Program is co-counsel representing Sierra Club.
With Donald Trump’s blessing, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have slashed funding, canceled contracts and fired thousands of federal employees, including within the U.S. National Park Service and Forest Service. These severe reductions in funding and staff are having terrible impacts, affecting visitors’ safety, wildlife protection, wildfire prevention, and proper maintenance at all public lands.
DOGE’s actions harm the American public’s ability to safely enjoy our public lands, which includes the Sierra Club’s millions of members and supporters.
In response, Ben Jealous, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“American families are already feeling the effects of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s careless and illegal cuts to our federal workforce. Firefighters and forest management staff have been dismissed as families remain on edge from the threats wildfires pose. Families wanting to enjoy our national parks, forests and monuments are being welcomed with closed signs, long lines, and unmaintained trails–before the parks’ busiest season has even begun. Without the workers to staff and support our public lands, communities will face more dangerous and deadly fires, park visitors will face unsafe conditions, and local economies that rely on national parks will struggle. Only Trump and Musk would try to threaten America’s best idea. We are taking DOGE to court to defend Americans’ ability to safely and freely access the landscapes that unite us.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.