5 Things to Know About Donald Trump's Budget

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Thursday, March 16, 2017

5. Environment Protection Agency to Receive Substantial Cuts

Members of the United Mine Workers of America hold a rally outside the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington October 7, 2014. The union members rallied against proposed EPA Clean Power Plan rules, which the union claims will eliminate thousands of coal industry-related jobs. | (Photo: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

The Environmental Protection Agency will receive severe cuts in the proposed budget, with a proposed decrease of $2.6 billion (or 31 percent) of its funding compared to fiscal year 2017, resulting in about 3,200 fewer positions within the EPA.

On page 41 of the budget blueprint, these cuts are justified by saying that they reflect "the success of environmental protection efforts, a focus on core legal requirements, the important role of the States in implementing the Nation's environmental laws, and the President's priority to ease the burden of unnecessary Federal regulations that impose significant costs for workers and consumers without justifiable environmental benefits."

As part of the reduction, over 50 EPA programs will be eliminated, with an estimated $347 million being saved as a result.

"Lower priority and poorly performing programs and grants are not funded, nor are duplicative functions that can be absorbed into other programs or that are State and local responsibilities," continued the document on page 42.

"Examples of eliminations in addition to those previously mentioned include: Energy Star; Targeted Airshed Grants; the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program; and infrastructure assistance to Alaska Native Villages and the Mexico Border."