In past years, the federal government has commissioned regular reports assessing the state of the climate as required by Congress. I worked as an author on the 5th National Climate Assessment helping write the Southeast chapter, which was published a couple of years ago. Congress also asked for regular assessments of the health of nature in the United States, but this effort was shut down this past year by the federal government without completing their work. However, thanks to many volunteer hours from the original authors and funding from other sources, the National Nature Assessment, now called the Nature Record, has been published in draft form and is now available for public comment. You can find descriptions of the findings listed in the report as well as a link to the full 868-page draft at the New York Times at https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/climate/trump-nature-assessment.html?unlocked_article_code=1.RFA.EH-f.6jOZ3PPosv_5&smid=url-share. The draft assessment of the health of nature in the United States is grim but shot through with bright spots and possibility.
