ALSOBROOKS QUESTIONS DIRECTOR OF FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ON CONSERVATION AND MARYLAND’S COMPENSATORY HUNTING DAYS

June 10, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works' (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, questioned Brian Nesvik, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), during an EPW hearing on "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget." Senator Alsobrooks questioned Director Nesvik about the distribution of Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funds to Maryland, the Administration's proposed cuts to state species protection funding, and compensatory hunting days for states that prohibit Sunday hunting for migratory game birds.

"I am glad I could get Director Nesvik's commitment to work with me and wildlife agency partners to allow greater flexibility for Maryland's hunting policies and to distribute sport fish and wildlife restoration funds expeditiously to states. This is good for our outdoor recreation economy and for conservation. I do hope Congress will reject the Administration's short-sighted proposal to eliminate important state funding to implement our Wildlife Action Plan; I will certainly work toward that end," said Senator Alsobrooks after the hearing.

WATCH SENATOR ALSOBROOKS' FULL QUESTIONING HERE

Highlights from their exchange:

Senator Alsobrooks: Current Fish and Wildlife Service policy provides compensatory hunting days for states that prohibit Sunday hunting for migratory game birds. However, the existing framework does not provide sufficient flexibility for states to adopt species-specific Sunday hunting policies while preserving those compensatory days. Instead, it effectively forces an all-or-nothing approach, limiting states' ability to tailor hunting regulations to local needs and stakeholder input. In Maryland, the Sunday hunting policy has historically been considered on a species-by-species basis, balancing the interests of hunters, landowners, conservationists, and local communities. Greater flexibility within the federal framework would allow the state to make incremental policy decisions without affecting overall conservation objectives or the total number of hunting days. The Trump Administration has repeatedly emphasized empowering states and reducing one-size-fits-all federal requirements, allowing additional flexibility in the compensatory days framework. This would be consistent with that goal. If allowing species- specific Sunday hunting would not increase the number of hunting days or undermine conservation objectives, why does the current compensatory days framework continue to require an all-or-nothing approach?

Director Nesvik: Great question, Senator. Actually, I have heard from some of your constituents very recently about this. I actually didn't even know it was an issue until recently. I know it is important to your constituents. I am committed to working with you, your staff, and also the states to try to figure out how we tackle this thing. I don't have a great solution today, but you are right. Our working with our state wildlife agency partners is a very high priority.

Senator Alsobrooks: Thank you.

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