350.org, the prominent environmental group that led the grassroots opposition to the now-blocked Keystone XL pipeline, is facing a severe financial crisis that has compelled it to “temporarily suspend programming” in the U.S. and internationally.
According to a letter obtained by Politico, the environmental advocacy group has suffered a 25% drop in income for its 2025 and 2026 fiscal years, forcing the abrupt halt in operations. The organization, which spearheaded the movement that culminated in former President Joe Biden revoking the pipeline’s federal permits on his first day in office, will retain only three American staffers in the hope of one day resuming its work.
The group’s executive director cited a number of factors behind the “very tough choices,” including the “political context” and the organization’s ability to resource its work, according to the report.
A Broader Shift in Climate Activism
350.org’s financial woes reflect a broader, challenging trend for major environmental groups this year, with multiple prominent organizations reporting significant staff cuts. The Sierra Club, the Rocky Mountain Institute, and the Ocean Conservancy are among other green groups reportedly downsizing.
These cuts signal a potentially broader shift in the landscape of climate activism as the current Trump administration takes steps to reverse environmental policy victories secured under the previous administration.
President Donald Trump, a vocal supporter of the Keystone XL project, has publicly stated his desire to revive the pipeline. In February, he wrote on social media, “I know they were treated very badly by Sleepy Joe Biden, but the Trump Administration is very different — Easy approvals, almost immediate start! If not them, perhaps another Pipeline Company. We want the Keystone XL Pipeline built!”
However, despite the President’s support for the project, some industry observers reportedly doubt the practical plausibility of reviving the pipeline at this stage.
The suspension of operations by 350.org, a group that was central to uniting landowners, Indigenous communities, and activists to stop the pipeline, highlights the immense resource challenges facing advocacy organizations amidst a changing political and policy environment.
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