The Trump administration’s more detailed budget request seeks to decimate science, staffing and other programs at multiple environment-related federal agencies.
Entities ranging from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the National Park Service (NPS) would see deep and specific cuts under the less “skinny” version of the administration’s budget that was released late Friday.
The EPA sees a 35 percent cut to the payroll for its science staff and for staff who work on environmental programs and environmental management.
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NPS sees a 30 percent cut to its staff in charge of park system operations.
Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sees a 28 percent cut to its operations, research and facilities staff payroll.
But it’s not just staff that takes a hit. A number of offices related to energy and environmental research, as well as disaster response, are reduced or eliminated under the proposal.
It completely zeroes out NOAA’s office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, for example, and also cuts federal assistance at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by 32 percent.
Science and technology activities at the EPA would see a 33 percent cut, while environmental programs and environmental management at the agency would see an 18 percent one.
And the Energy Department would also see a 13 cut to its science office. The budget document also proposes to “wind down” the department’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, which was established in the Biden-era bipartisan infrastructure law to to bolster emerging energy technologies including hydrogen power, carbon capture, advanced nuclear reactors, and batteries.
“This sick joke of a budget is a nonstarter,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, in a written statement. “In no way can America continue to lead if Trump continues his vendetta against the scientific enterprise. While Trump slashes budgets for American research and innovation, our adversaries, like China, are popping champagne. I will do everything I can to stand in the way of this ridiculous plan.
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In previous years, a White House budget request has been taken as more of a signal of an administration’s priorities than a roadmap that’s likely to be realized since it’s Congress, not the administration, that has the power of the purse.
The Trump administration, however, has signaled that it is willing to go further to challenge that authority, already instituting massive layoffs at many agencies and gearing up for more.
And White House budget director Russell Vought said over the weekend that the administration would consider “impoundment” to get its agenda across the finish line.
It’s not entirely clear how the budget would play out politically, as cuts to programs such as NPS have been historically unpopular. The administration’s calls for cuts to FEMA have also been met with mixed reviews even within the GOP, though, the budget proposal stops short of the administration’s broader calls to eliminate FEMA entirely.
The document that was released late Friday gives additional color to a less detailed “skinny budget” previously released by the administration. The skinny budget also proposed big cuts at similar agencies.
The previously announced document called for a 55 percent cut to the EPA’s overall budget and a 31 percent cut to the Interior Department, which houses the Park Service. It also called for transferring certain national park “properties” to the states.
