The Sierra Club’s leadership crisis has boiled over, ending with the board’s unanimous vote to fire Executive Director Ben Jealous for cause after what members described as leadership collapse. The environmental group confirmed Monday that the board “has unanimously voted to terminate Mr. Jealous’ employment with the Sierra Club for cause following extensive evaluation of his conduct.” Board president Patrick Murphy said the move was “a difficult but principled decision to uphold our values and commitment to accountability.”
Jealous, a prominent progressive activist, had been placed on leave last month following demands from local chapters for a no-confidence vote. His tenure was marked by multiple rounds of layoffs, open feuds with staff, and strategic controversies. Union president Erica Dodt praised the board’s decision, saying, “Over a year ago, our union members overwhelmingly voted no confidence in Jealous’ leadership, citing his mismanagement of our organization’s strategy and budget and his ongoing attacks on our union.”
Jealous has faced past criticism for political inconsistencies, including giving contradictory answers to Jewish and Muslim voters on the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement during his failed 2018 Maryland gubernatorial run. His campaign also contacted a lobbyist convicted of fraud, despite pledging to avoid such individuals.
In response to his firing, Jealous told the New York Times, “It is disheartening, unfortunate, but perhaps not surprising that the board has chosen an adversarial course that the facts so clearly cannot support. I have begun the process under my contract to fight this decision. I am confident that we will prevail.”
