Seven women evoke the impact of rising seas by standing their ground.
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A national monument that saves the last of the last
The monument that brought us the ‘super bloom’ also supports rural economies and threatened wildlife.
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RV industry lobbies to privatize services on public lands
And they have found an ally in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.
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A Navajo musician’s quest to spread jazz across the Nation
After gaining international fame, Delbert Anderson and his ensemble bring their music home.
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Channel your wildfire angst into climate change action
Oregon’s sorrow and wrath from the Eagle Creek Fire should be put towards policy.
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Meet your local anti-government extremist groups
With violent rhetoric surging since Trump’s election, it helps to know your neighbors.
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Women in rural Washington enter local politics after Trump
Energized by the election, more women in Klickitat County seek office, and change.
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What is the Indian Health Service?
The Indian Health Service, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides health services to federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. The agency focuses on school nutrition and exercise programs, education about diabetes and obesity, injury prevention, and treatment for mental health issues and substance abuse. With about 15,000 employees, […]
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What is the Environmental Protection Agency?
The Environmental Protection Agency is charged with safeguarding human health as well as the environment. This executive branch agency writes and enforces environmental regulations in accordance with bedrock laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. It also conducts basic research on air quality, chemical safety, ecosystems, and managing contaminated land and […]
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What is the Department of Energy?
Though the Department of Energy is best known as the keeper of the country’s nuclear weapons, the responsibilities of this Cabinet-level department also include broad energy issues, such as production, conservation and research. It operates a system of national laboratories, including facilities in Richland, Washington; Los Alamos, New Mexico; Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Berkeley, California. […]
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What is the U.S. Department of Agriculture?
The Department of Agriculture is concerned with forestry, food and farming. This executive branch department oversees 17 major agencies, including the Forest Service, which manages national forests and grasslands; the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which helps farmers, ranchers and other landowners conserve and restore their lands; and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which […]
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What is the Natural Resources Conservation Service?
The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides funding and technical knowledge to help private-property owners, conservation districts and other groups restore and conserve their land. This executive branch agency, overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, administers programs that help with projects such as installing efficient water-delivery systems on ranches and implementing farming practices that improve […]
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What is the U.S. Geological Survey?
The U.S. Geological Survey was created in 1879 to map the land and waters of the United States. Part of the Department of the Interior, today it also focuses on conducting scientific research and developing new methods and tools. The USGS gathers data on climate change, groundwater, natural ecosystems, oil, gas and renewable energy and […]
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What is the National Park Service?
Founded in 1916 as part of the Interior Department, the National Park Service oversees 417 units on over 84 million acres. That includes national parks as well as national monuments, historic landmarks, heritage areas, wild and scenic rivers and 44 million acres of designated wilderness. Its budget in 2016 was $3 billion, but it needs […]
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What is Immigration and Customs Enforcement?
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security since 2003, is responsible for enforcing laws concerning immigration, customs, border control and trade. The agency had a $6 billion budget in 2016, with about 20,000 employees. ICE arrests and deports undocumented immigrants and those considered a threat to public safety, and investigates […]
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What is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?
Part of the Interior Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is primarily responsible for conserving the nation’s flora and fauna. It manages 850 million acres of water and land in the National Wildlife Refuge System, which provides hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching opportunities. The agency also oversees fish hatcheries, enforces federal wildlife laws and manages […]
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What is the Federal Emergency Management Agency?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which had a budget of $14 billion in 2016, coordinates the country’s response to major disasters and assists in recovery. In the event of a crisis, the governor of an affected state must declare a state of emergency and formally request FEMA’s support and funding. FEMA also handles disaster preparedness, […]
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What is the Government Accountability Office?
The Government Accountability Office — known as the “congressional watchdog” — is a nonpartisan group responsible for investigating the use of taxpayers’ dollars. GAO investigations can be requested by congressional committees or authorized by public laws or committee reports. The group audits the efficiency of agencies’ spending, provides reports on the success of government programs, […]
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What is the Nuclear Regulatory Commission?
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which was established after the Atomic Energy Commission was dissolved in 1974, is an independent federal agency tasked with regulating nuclear materials, radioactive waste, nuclear reactors and nuclear security. The NRC works to protect public health and the environment by overseeing the safe use of radioactive materials. Its duties include writing […]
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What is the Department of Homeland Security?
After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, 22 existing federal departments and agencies were integrated into the Department of Homeland Security, with a stated mission of preventing terrorism and protecting Americans from various threats. The Cabinet-level department handles a broad range of duties related to public security, including immigration, border security, anti-terrorism, cyber-security and other domestic […]