Why It Matters

Congress is actively debating significant weakening of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and considering rollbacks to endangered species habitat protections. Simultaneously, the International Fund for Animal Welfare is positioned to advance international conservation priorities like the Albatross and Petrel Conservation Act of 2025 and support bills it already endorses, including the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act and the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act.

By the Numbers

IFAW retained Synchronicity Strategies effective April 9, 2024, with specific focus on "advocacy and outreach to House and Senate offices regarding international conservation efforts." Kaumo served 21 years across 11 consecutive congresses, including as Deputy Staff Director and Senior Adviser to the House Natural Resources Committee. His most recent congressional role was with Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-7), a senior environmental voice.

IFAW previously worked with Tai Ginsberg & Associates LLC (2022-2025) and has filed 91 lobbying disclosures since first registering in 2003. Historical priorities included marine mammal protection, shark conservation, and federal appropriations for NOAA programs.

The Agenda

IFAW is lobbying on "advocacy and outreach to House and Senate offices regarding international conservation efforts." The organization is positioned to engage on current legislative initiatives including the Albatross and Petrel Conservation Act of 2025, the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025, and the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025—all bills IFAW already endorses.

Broader Context

The conservation landscape is shifting dramatically as federal rollbacks threaten core statutes IFAW depends on. Global wildlife trafficking affects 4,000+ species annually worth approximately $20 billion, while international ocean protection momentum is building with 60 countries ratifying the High Seas Treaty. The House Natural Resources Committee remains the battleground for ESA and Marine Mammal Protection Act debates.

Between The Lines

Recent congressional developments underscore the urgency of IFAW’s strategic pivot:

Competitive Landscape

IFAW competes with established conservation players on overlapping priorities. Wildlife Conservation Society maintains a large in-house lobbying team focused on appropriations and wildlife trafficking, while San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance pursues a narrower appropriations strategy. IFAW’s addition of Kaumo provides specialized House Natural Resources Committee legislative expertise—a strategic differentiator from peers’ appropriations-heavy emphasis.

The Bottom Line

IFAW’s hiring of Synchronicity Strategies represents its most significant lobbying strategy change in over a decade, positioning the organization to defend core conservation statutes under pressure while advancing international wildlife protection measures at a critical legislative moment.

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