Senate Democrats accused the Trump administration of abandoning the Environmental Protection Agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment at a hearing on Wednesday, slamming the agency’s leadership over a proposal to cut its budget in half. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s appearance before the Senate environment committee was his last of three budget hearings this week where he argued for sharply reduced funding for the agency, which already has seen its staffing reduced to its lowest level in decades under his leadership, the AP reports. “Zeldin has executed the fossil fuel industry’s agenda. A massive reckoning is coming,” said Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.
During much of the week, the former Republican congressman from New York took an aggressive approach, responding to Democrats in the House and Senate with his own questions and at times accusing them of being unprepared or failing to care about the EPA’s track record. Zeldin has eliminated major climate change programs, promoted deregulatory efforts he calls the biggest in American history and canceled billions of dollars in Biden-era environmental justice grants to halt “EPA’s radical diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.” He told senators, “This budget proposal captures significant efficiencies and a return focus on what Congress has directed us to do, demonstrating our commitment to a leaner, more efficient and accountable EPA.”
The administration’s proposed $4.2 billion EPA budget would sharply reduce support for state environmental programs and state-administered loans for water projects. It also would halt what it calls “radical climate research” and cut resources for enforcement and compliance. Officials asked for more money for faster project permitting and to address drinking water disasters. On budgets, Congress gets the final say, and lawmakers commonly depart from White House requests. Last year, they rejected most of Trump’s proposed cuts, reducing agency spending by just 3.5% despite an administration request to cut it by more than half. Democrats said the new budget plan shows Zeldin is a friend to industry and ignores the cancers, asthma, and other consequences of pollution. “The budget proposal reads like a climate change deniers’ manifesto,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.
