Sierra Club's Executive Director Steps Down Amid Controversy

Sat Oct 25 2025 02:32:03 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Ben Jealous takes a leave of absence following internal strife and staff concerns about leadership effectiveness.

In a surprising turn of events, Ben Jealous, the executive director of the Sierra Club, has officially taken a leave of absence after nearly three years at the helm. This announcement raises eyebrows as it closely follows several rounds of layoffs initiated during his tenure and highlights growing discontent among staff and union members regarding his leadership style and strategic direction.

On July 11, 2025, the Sierra Club confirmed that Jealous is on leave as of Friday afternoon. His time leading the prominent environmental nonprofit has been marked by tensions with local chapter employees and managerial staff, culminating in a recent letter from over 100 employees directed to the organization's board of directors. In this communication, staff expressed serious concerns regarding Jealous's ability to navigate the Sierra Club through the ongoing challenges posed by a second Trump administration.

The letter criticized Jealous for failing to outline a definitive strategy to combat the Trump administration's initiatives that threaten decades of environmental protections. Employees described feeling neglected and cited a growing mistrust from potential funders, sparking fears that the Sierra Club was entering a "downward spiral."

In light of Jealous's leave, Loren Blackford has been appointed as the interim executive director, according to the Sierra Club's official website. A spokesperson from the Sierra Club declined to provide details about the circumstances surrounding Jealous's leave and stated that the organization would not comment on personnel matters. As for Jealous himself, he has not yet issued a response to inquiries regarding his leave.