President Proposes 27 Percent Cut to EPA

The budget for the Environmental Protection Agency would be slashed by $2.4 billion or 27 percent in FY 2021 if the President has his way. Overall the regulatory agency would receive $6.6 billion. The Administration proposed drastic cuts to EPA’s budget in FY 2018, FY 2019, and FY 2020 as well. These were rejected by Congress. The budget prioritizes support for core programs and infrastructure for a “cleaner healthier environment,” collaborations with state, tribal and federal partners, and creating “consistency and certainty for the regulated community” by removing redundant regulations, modernizing the permitting process. Under the budget request, the number of full-time-equivalent staff positions would decrease from 14,172 in FY 2020 to 12,610 in FY 2021. Scientific research within EPA is slated for a 32 percent cut. EPA Science and Technology, which supports research used to identify and mitigate environmental problems, would receive $485 million. Funding for research and development programs would be slashed by 43 percent. Within the Office of Research and Development, funding for research on sustainable and healthy communities would decline to $70.9 million (-53 percent). Support would be targeted to research on efforts to achieve the Administrator’s priorities of revitalizing land and preventing contamination, providing clean and safe water, improving air quality, and ensuring the safety of chemicals in the marketplace. The plan p...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news