Facing Backlash, Congress Opts Against Huge EPA Cuts -- For A Few Months

“Facing a backlash against environmental rollbacks from citizens across the country, Congress has delayed, for now, the worst attacks on the on the programs that protect our children’s health and environment. This is a large and complicated budget deal for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2017, about six months. Environmental Protection Agency was not singled out for damaging cuts, as the Trump administration is proposing for next year, Fiscal Year 2018.

“We are grateful to those members of Congress who fought the lobbyists and special interests to achieve this outcome, and to the many Americans who have told Congress to protect public health and the environment. We also applaud efforts to protect coal miners from losing their health and pension benefits.

“As we go forward, the Trump administration will seek damaging cuts across the board, including many for clean water, clean air, parks, wildlife, and other programs. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is working even now to rollback safeguards against toxic pollutants like mercury, acid gases, carbon and smog. The Trump administration is pushing for a crippling 31% cut to next year’s budget for the EPA and programs that protect clean air. Polluter lobbyists are working to load up future spending bills with more harmful environmental riders. If these attacks are not stopped, the result of these cuts and riders will be more asthma attacks for our kids, more health problems for elderly Americans, and more pollution for all of us.”

- Elizabeth Thompson, President of EDF Action