Ben Jealous, the executive director of the Sierra Club, has been placed on leave as of Friday afternoon, signaling a tumultuous period for the storied environmental organization. This decision was announced following a tenure marked by employee discontent and criticism regarding the leadership's ability to navigate the challenges posed by the current administration.
Since Jealous took the helm in 2023, the Sierra Club has faced several rounds of layoffs, creating a ripple effect of dissatisfaction among local chapters and staff. A particularly vocal group of over 100 employees expressed their concerns in a letter to the board of directors, arguing that Jealous had not adequately prepared the organization for renewed environmental challenges associated with a potential second term of the Trump administration. The letter specifically pointed to his lack of a solid strategy to counteract ongoing efforts to dismantle long-standing environmental protections.
“Mr. Jealous failed to articulate any concrete strategy or theory of change for how we will effectively fight the Trump administration’s dismantling of decades of hard-won environmental protections,” the employees wrote, highlighting a growing sense of urgency within the organization to adapt to the shifting political landscape.
The Sierra Club's management refrained from elaborating on the specifics of Jealous’s leave, opting instead to declare that personnel matters would not be publicly discussed. Loren Blackford has been appointed as the interim executive director, a move that aims to stabilize operations during this critical juncture.
As the Sierra Club looks to reclaim its footing, the dissent among staff underscores the challenges that long-standing organizations face in times of political upheaval and organizational change, particularly within the environmental movement where unity and clear direction are crucial.
