Overview

• The Trump administration's 2026 budget proposes slashing EPA funding by $4.5 billion, reducing staffing to 1980s levels and eliminating key programs like Energy Star and environmental justice initiatives.
• Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the cuts as a crackdown on waste, stating that multiple employees reviewed the nearly 800 canceled grants totaling $2 billion, though Democrats challenged the integrity of the review process.
• Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse accused Zeldin of providing conflicting accounts about grant reviews, citing Justice Department filings that contradicted Zeldin's claims of personal involvement.
• Sen. Adam Schiff warned that the budget cuts would increase pollution, contaminate water supplies, and lead to higher rates of cancer and other illnesses, calling Zeldin's actions a threat to public health.
• Zeldin argued that the cuts reflect taxpayer priorities and accused Democrats of prioritizing political attacks over addressing waste and abuse in environmental spending.