Trump Administration Budget Proposal Terrible for Climate

“The Trump Administration unfortunately never misses an opportunity to take a wrong turn on climate action,” said EESI Executive Director Daniel Bresette. “The 2021 budget proposal released today could—and should—provide a path to significantly reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, but instead it does the exact opposite.”

The Trump Administration's full budget proposal for fiscal year 2021 was released on February 10, and it once again seeks drastic funding cuts for clean energy and environmental programs, even though Congress has resoundingly rejected, on a bipartisan basis, similar funding reductions in previous budgets from this Administration.

“Globally, we need to cut our emissions threefold to keep warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, and fivefold if we want to keep it below 1.5 degrees. Rather than heeding the warnings from climate scientists, this proposed budget instead slashes investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, guts protections to human health and the environment, cuts funding for the popular ENERGY STAR program, and cripples state energy programs. We should be weaning ourselves off fossil fuels, but this proposal boosts spending on oil and gas.”

“For the past three years, Congress has rejected the Administration’s attempt to cut back U.S. funding for clean energy solutions,” noted Bresette. “We hope it will do so again, and provide the resources needed to carry out the important, on-going research and programs of the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal offices to ensure a more sustainable future. The American people, by way of their representatives in Congress, have shown again and again that they support clean energy. There are overwhelming majorities in favor of federal funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs and research.”

The Administration argues that its cuts will benefit taxpayers and the economy, but that is very short-sighted. In fact, the cuts to EPA’s budget and proposed increases for fossil-fuel energy development will be harmful and costly to taxpayers and the economy. Investments in new, clean technologies, however, will continue to reap huge dividends. Investments in energy efficiency and resilience have already proved to be among the most cost-effective uses of taxpayer dollars. Every $1 invested in federal building efficiency R&D results in at least $20 of benefits. Every $1 invested in resilience saves $4 to $11 in averted disaster costs.