President Donald Trump has unveiled a controversial budget proposal that threatens to significantly reduce funding for green energy initiatives, weaken environmental protections, and impair health and climate research across the nation.
The preliminary budget for the 2026 fiscal year suggests cutting $15 billion from federal allocations aimed at renewable energy sources and advanced technologies for carbon capture. In addition, it proposes a reduction of nearly $18 billion for the National Institutes of Health, while the Environmental Protection Agency’s funding could be cut by half.
This latest budget plan appears to be another major blow to federal agencies, coming on the heels of Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s swift actions to eliminate thousands of government positions and undermine the regulatory agencies responsible for safeguarding public health, homes, and the environment. Additionally, the proposal features language that seems to target civil rights and solutions for addressing climate change.
“The budget document is laced with racist, anti-science, petty, and cruel language that should be beneath the president of the United States.”
Gretchen Goldman, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, criticized the budget, stating that it contains “racist, anti-science, petty, and cruel language” unbefitting of a sitting president.
The budget proposes eliminating $624 million from the Economic Development Administration and Minority Business Development Agency. It labels certain programs as “subsidies for idealogues [sic] who prioritize ‘racial equity’ and the radicalized climate agenda,” and condemns federal support for initiatives like a “Pride Plaza” in Portland, Oregon.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), responsible for weather forecasting and climate research, stands to face a $1.3 billion cut. This proposal would eliminate numerous climate-related initiatives, which the administration claims “radicalize students against markets” and spread undue environmental fear. The budget also seeks to forgo $209 million designated for acquiring weather satellites.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is projected to lose $646 million in funding, despite an increasing incidence of billion-dollar weather-related disasters affecting the country. The budget proposal indicates a shift away from integrating equity in emergency management and perpetuates claims that the agency has discriminated against Trump supporters, echoing social media disinformation that previously targeted FEMA workers.
In an effort to address climate-related disasters, the Biden administration had previously allocated a significant amount of federal resources towards carbon-neutral energy projects. Trump is now seeking to retract these funds, even amidst ongoing legal disputes over the funding that Congress had authorized. His newly proposed budget aims to eliminate more than $15.2 billion from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes cuts for electric vehicle manufacturing and $5.7 billion specifically designated for EV charging stations.
If enacted, the Environmental Protection Agency would face cuts exceeding $4.2 billion. Significant reductions would impact the Hazardous Substance Superfund, which would lose $254 million intended for cleaning up over 1,300 toxic sites nationwide. Moreover, the EPA’s research capabilities would be diminished by $235 million, including the complete elimination of its environmental justice programs, which would see a funding loss of $100 million.
Michelle Roos, executive director of the Environmental Protection Network, expressed concern, stating, “When the next toxic disaster strikes, who will answer the phone and respond? Americans overwhelmingly support the EPA’s mission, and the public must mobilize to advocate against these attacks on public health.”
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), which boasted a budget of around $48 billion last year, could see a reduction of nearly 40 percent under Trump’s new budget proposal. The document also criticizes NIH for promoting “radical gender ideology to the detriment of America’s youth,” following a report from the Department of Health and Human Services that has drawn criticism for misrepresenting medical consensus on treating transgender youth, according to the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
