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3d ago

EPA Administrator Defends Deep Budget Cuts and Grant Cancellations in Senate Hearing

Lee Zeldin faced intense scrutiny over plans to slash EPA funding by 55%, reduce staff to historic lows, and cancel nearly 800 grants, as Democrats warned of severe public health risks.

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., from left, speaks as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Sen. Cory Booker D-N.J., listen during a live-streamed conversation on the steps of the Capitol, Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
FILE - EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Lee Zeldin, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testifies before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works during a hearing regarding President Trump's budget request for the agency in Washington DC, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. President Trump's budget proposal for the EPA calls for more than a 50 percent cut in the budget from last year's.
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Overview

  • The Trump administration's proposed 2026 EPA budget seeks a 55% funding reduction, cutting $4.5 billion and reducing staff to levels last seen four decades ago.
  • Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the cancellation of 781 Biden-era grants worth nearly $2 billion, claiming thorough reviews were conducted, a claim disputed by Senate Democrats citing conflicting court filings and agency testimony.
  • Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Adam Schiff accused Zeldin of procedural inconsistencies and warned that the cuts would lead to increased pollution, dirtier water, and higher cancer rates.
  • Zeldin argued the cuts were necessary to eliminate waste and prioritize fiscal responsibility, accusing Democrats of ignoring taxpayer concerns and defending his agency's actions as aligned with Trump's agenda.
  • Democrats signaled ongoing inquiries and potential legal challenges over the grant cancellations and the broader deregulatory push, emphasizing the public health consequences of the proposed changes.