Critical moment for native bee research in the US

FUNDING WITHDRAWAL

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IN a lush field of tall grass and poison ivy, Sam Droege, a dedicated wildlife biologist, embarks on his daily commute to the government lab he has managed for over 23 years.

However, the future of this vital institution hangs in the balance as the Trump administration’s 2026 budget proposal threatens to defund the lab, jeopardising crucial research on native bees and their role in maintaining biodiversity.

As Droege reflects on his decades of work, he faces an uncertain future, one that could have dire consequences for the environment and food production.

Droege, a slender 66-year-old with long white hair styled in neat French braids, is one of the world’s leading experts on native bees. These pollinators, which thrive in the wild, differ significantly from honeybees, which are farmed for profit.