发现Yosemite的John Muir创立的环保组织，刚来美国的时候如日中天，街上的车子到处都有他们的sticker. 现在基本消失了。据说因为巴勒斯坦问题得罪了犹太人。
The Sierra Club is currently experiencing severe internal turmoil, marked by financial distress, a significant decline in membership, the recent firing of its executive director, and deep internal divisions over its mission and workplace culture.
Key troubles include:
Financial Crisis and Layoffs: The organization has faced a projected budget deficit of nearly $40 million and has conducted three rounds of employee layoffs since 2022 to address the shortfall. The staff union, the Progressive Workers Union, has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that the layoffs illegally targeted union leaders.
Membership Decline: The number of members and supporters has dropped by approximately 60% since its peak in 2019. Dues-paying members have also fallen by 27% since early 2021.
Leadership Instability: Executive Director Ben Jealous, who was hired in 2023 to stabilize the organization, was fired by the board in July 2025 following accusations of bullying, financial mismanagement, and an employee sexual harassment claim. Jealous, in turn, has filed a discrimination complaint against the club.
Internal Culture and Mission Drift: The Sierra Club has been consumed by a debate over its strategic direction. A shift towards a broader social justice agenda (including racial justice, labor rights, and immigrant rights) alongside its core environmental mission alienated some long-time, environment-focused members and volunteers. Internal documents and a 2021 external report revealed a workplace culture that tolerated "anger and aggression" and had inadequate systems for addressing misconduct and discrimination complaints.
Political Engagement Issues: The group's political donations have decreased, and some internal reports suggest the focus on social justice issues, such as calling for defunding the police and reparations for slavery, detracted from its core environmental advocacy and contributed to the decline in support.
These challenges have left the organization weakened and distracted just as it faces a political climate perceived by many in the environmental movement as hostile.
