Budget plan slashes science and staffing at EPA, NOAA, and Park Service
President Trump’s detailed budget blueprint proposes steep staffing and program cuts across environmental agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), targeting science, disaster response, and clean energy.
Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.
In short:
- The EPA would see a 35% payroll cut for its science and environmental staff, with an additional 33% reduction in science and technology activities and 18% in program management.
- The National Park Service faces a 30% staff reduction in park operations, and NOAA would lose 28% of its operations, research, and facilities staff payroll while its Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research is eliminated entirely.
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) also face cuts, including a 32% reduction in FEMA’s federal assistance and a proposed shutdown of the DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
Key quote:
“This sick joke of a budget is a nonstarter. In no way can America continue to lead if Trump continues his vendetta against the scientific enterprise.”
— Rep. Zoe Lofgren, top Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee
Why this matters:
Slashing federal investment in environmental and scientific agencies ripples into the daily lives of Americans. Dismantling research offices or gutting staff makes it harder to prepare for and respond to disasters, manage public lands, and advance cleaner, safer technologies. The proposed budget would also stall or reverse progress on climate and energy research, sidelining efforts to reduce pollution, lower energy costs, and protect ecosystems. Past budget attempts like this haven’t fully materialized, but this one comes with new signals that the administration may push harder to drastically reshape government oversight of environmental and public health protections.
Read more: Public health system unravels as federal cuts leave communities exposed to disease threats
