Trump budget brings cuts to science, staff and programs
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 would see a 35 percent cut to the payroll for its science staff and for staff who work on environmental programs and environmental management.
NPS would see a 30 percent cut to its staff in charge of park system operations.
Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would get 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.
White House budget requests are typically seen as a signal of an administration’s priorities rather than a roadmap that is likely to be realized, since Congress controls appropriations.
The Trump administration, however, has signaled it is willing to go further to challenge that authority, already instituting massive layoffs at many agencies and gearing up for more.
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
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