Democrats say EPA head’s budget cut proposal ‘reads like climate change deniers’ manifesto’
Democrats denounce EPA chiefs proposed 2025 budget cuts as climate denial manifesto, citing 40% climate program reductions.
Image: GlobalBeat / 2026
EPA climate budget cuts proposal draws ‘deniers manifesto’ charge from Democrats
Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat
Democratic lawmakers blasted the Trump administration’s plan to slash EPA funding by 66 percent at a congressional hearing Tuesday.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said the proposal “reads like a climate change deniers’ manifesto” as EPA administrator Lee Zeldin defended eliminating 12,000 agency jobs.
The budget cuts would end federal climate research programs and scrap vehicle emissions standards enacted under previous administrations. Republicans argue the reductions would save $9.7 billion annually while Democrats warn of environmental rollback consequences.
Background
The Environmental Protection Agency has faced repeated funding threats since Trump’s return to office in January 2025. The agency’s current $12.1 billion budget supports air quality monitoring, superfund cleanup sites, and federal enforcement of environmental laws.
Previous Republican administrations attempted similar EPA reductions with mixed success. Congress blocked most of Trump’s 2017 proposed cuts during his first term. State environmental officials depend on federal grants that would disappear under the new proposal.
What’s Next
The House Appropriations Committee scheduled a markup session for next week where Democrats plan to offer amendments restoring EPA funding. Senate Democrats threaten to block the entire budget package without environmental program protections.
Senate approval requires 60 votes, giving Democrats leverage to negotiate partial funding restorations before the September 30 fiscal year deadline. Environmental groups already filed lawsuits challenging the administration’s authority to eliminate established programs without congressional approval.
The budget proposal signals intensifying battles over federal climate policy as Trump ramps up oil drilling approvals and withdraws from international climate agreements again.
Senior Correspondent, World & Geopolitics
Muhammad Asghar covers international affairs, conflict zones, and US foreign policy for GlobalBeat. He has reported on events across the Middle East, South Asia, and Eastern Europe, with a focus on the intersection of diplomacy and armed conflict. He has been writing wire-service journalism for over a decade.