WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an $852,735 performance partnership grant (PPG) to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to help protect human health and the environment throughout the state, U.S. Senator Jack Reed took the Trump Administration to task for touting federal funds it seeks to cut. 

The Trump Administration’s FY 2018 budget proposes cutting EPA’s funding by nearly $2.6 billion - an overall reduction of 31 percent - and reducing the EPA workforce by more than 3,800 employees. The Trump budget would slash the air and water quality grants that include the PPGs, and would also cut nearly 50 programs that protect air and water, address climate change, and strengthen chemical safety protections.

Senator Reed stated:

“It is important for Rhode Island and the federal government to work together to safeguard our environment, but the Trump Administration is not a reliable partner when it comes to environmental protection.  I am extremely concerned that the Trump administration’s plans to slash the EPA budget will end successful federal-state partnerships.  It is pretty galling for the Trump Administration to tout money for state partnership grants even as it seeks to do away with them in the 2018 budget.  Like many Americans across the country, I am deeply concerned by the gutting of environmental protections, which will lead to even more environmental damage that states will be left to clean up on their own.  The Trump Administration continues to put the interests of  polluters ahead of public health by weakening clean air and clean water standards.

“Congress worked across the aisle to make sure funds were available in all fifty states to protect clean air and clean water.  President Trump has proposed slashing the EPA’s budget by 31 percent.  We will continue to work to build bipartisan support in Congress to oppose those harmful cuts and make these funds available.”