This Is How the EPA Uses Its Budget—Now Targeted for Deep Cuts

By Sarah Gibbens

Ensuring clean air, land, and water—this is how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses nearly 90 percent of its budget. However, in a controversial move that has many advocates concerned, this same budget has been slated for deep proposed cuts.

President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.1 trillion budget, released early Thursday morning, would reduce the EPA’s budget by 31 percent. Along with the EPA, a dozen other agencies from the State Department to Housing and Urban Development would see significant budgetary reductions.

Last year’s EPA budget, allocated at $8.1 billion, was the lowest it had been in 16 years. Forty-five percent of the agency’s spending on these initiatives comes in the form of grants.

An anticipated 3,200 positions would be cut from the EPA if Trump’s proposed budget were adopted by Congress. Payroll accounted for 22 percent of the EPA’s previous budgetary allocations.

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