# Trump’s Budget Proposal: Aims a Wrecking Ball at Science, Clean Energy, and the Environment

## Trump’s Budget Proposal: Aims a Wrecking Ball at Science, Clean Energy, and the Environment

President Donald Trump’s newly proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year outlines drastic cuts that threaten to cripple scientific research, stifle green energy initiatives, and dismantle environmental safeguards in the United States. The proposal, released Friday, targets key agencies and programs with significant funding reductions, drawing sharp criticism from scientists and environmental advocates.

The budget blueprint proposes slashing $15 billion in federal funding for renewable energy projects and technologies aimed at capturing carbon emissions. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) would face an $18 billion reduction, nearly 40% of its funding, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would see its budget cut in half, losing over $4.2 billion.

These cuts are part of a broader effort to dismantle federal agencies, following previous moves by Trump and Elon Musk to lay off thousands of government employees and weaken environmental regulations. Critics argue that the proposal reflects a disregard for scientific evidence, public health, and environmental protection.

“The budget document is laced with racist, anti-science, petty, and cruel language that should be beneath the president of the United States,” said Gretchen Goldman, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, in a press release.

Specific programs facing the ax include the Economic Development Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency, which the budget derides as “subsidies for idealogues who prioritize ‘racial equity’ and the radicalized climate agenda.” Funding for initiatives like a “Pride Plaza” in Portland, Oregon, are also targeted.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), responsible for weather forecasting and climate research, would suffer a $1.3 billion loss in funding, leading to the termination of numerous climate-focused programs. These cuts extend to educational programs that the budget claims “radicalize students against markets and spread environmental alarm”, and includes eliminating $209 million for procuring weather satellites.

Even the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), responsible for disaster response, would face a $646 million reduction. The budget states that FEMA will no longer “instill equity as a foundation of emergency management” and echoes false claims of discrimination against Trump voters, fueled by disinformation spread on social media.

Trump’s budget also seeks to reverse the Biden administration’s investments in clean energy projects. The proposal aims to cancel over $15.2 billion from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021, including funding for electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing, and cutting $5.7 billion earmarked for EV chargers.

The EPA faces further cuts, including a $254 million reduction to the Hazardous Substance Superfund, which funds the cleanup of over 1,300 toxic sites across the country. The EPA’s scientific research arm would similarly lose $235 million, and the budget eliminates the agency’s environmental justice programs, slashing $100 million in funding.

The proposed cuts to the NIH are justified by claims that the agency promotes “radical gender ideology to the detriment of America’s youth.” This follows a recent report from the Department of Health and Human Services based on harmful pseudoscience regarding the treatment of transgender youth, which has been widely criticized by medical professionals.

The budget proposal has sparked widespread condemnation from scientists, environmental advocates, and public health experts, who warn of its devastating consequences for research, innovation, and the health and safety of Americans. Its future remains uncertain, as it now faces scrutiny and debate in Congress.