FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2025
CONTACT: Aaron Bharucha, Public Relations Associate
(509) 429-1699 and epn-press@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org
With FY2026 Budget on the Line, Former EPA Leaders Urge Congress to Advance Senate’s Bipartisan Bill to Halt the Dismantling of Protections to Americans’ Health
“Congress now has the first real opportunity to put some checks on this serial shutdown and to reaffirm that Americans still expect EPA to do its job.”
Washington D.C. – Former EPA leaders and policy experts from the Environmental Protection Network today urged Congress to reject deep House-proposed cuts to EPA’s budget and instead adopt the bipartisan Senate FY2026 appropriations bill, which preserves core health, safety, science, and clean water protections.
In a press briefing at the close of what speakers described as “a year of serial shutdown inside EPA,” EPN experts pointed to the deliberate pattern of weakened protections, sidelined science, and staff attrition has left Americans more exposed to toxic chemicals and environmental hazards.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
EPA’s Ability to Protect Americans is Being Dismantled
Marc Boom, EPN Senior Director of Public Affairs, opened the briefing with a clear warning: “For nearly a year, political appointees have taken step after step that add up to a serial shutdown of EPA’s ability to protect people’s health. The result is simple: more unsafe air, more contaminated water, and fewer safeguards when pollution or industrial accidents occur.”
Boom outlined multiple actions taken in the past 11 months, including proposals to weaken PFAS protections, delays on toxic wastewater standards, weakened mercury pollution rules, and plans to eliminate EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD).
He emphasized the real-world impacts: higher cancer risks, more lead exposure, greater PFAS contamination, and longer delays in identifying hazardous chemicals.
House vs. Senate: A Clear Choice for Congress
EPN experts stressed that with the federal funding deadline approaching, lawmakers face a consequential decision:
The House Bill: Deep Cuts that Endanger Communities
- 23% cut to EPA’s budget
- Major cuts to enforcement—limiting the agency’s ability to hold polluters accountable
- Slashing science funding and enabling plans to close ORD
- Cutting millions from clean water revolving funds, jeopardizing states’ ability to address lead pipes, PFAS, and failing water systems
“These cuts translate directly into harm: Slower cleanups, fewer inspections, and higher risks for families,” said Boom.
The Senate Bill: A Bipartisan Plan that Preserves Core Protections
- 5% cut to EPA’s FY25 budget
- Blocks closure of ORD, with Senate appropriators calling that proposal “appalling” and posing “immeasurable risk”
- Maintains state clean water revolving funds
- Passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, 26–2
“Passing the Senate bill would send a powerful message that Americans want real guardians on the job protecting their health and safety,” Boom said.
States Will Feel the Cuts First—and Hardest
David Coursen, former EPA attorney, highlighted that EPA’s budget is also state funding: “States depend on EPA and federal money for a substantial part of their core budget, so they really need this money to operate.”
Coursen and others noted significant cuts in the House bill to state revolving funds that provide money to states that help municipal water systems provide safe drinking water.
Budget cuts in the House bill would mean:
- More brown water at the tap
- More stormwater contamination
- More illness
- Higher water bills for families who can least afford it.
Science on the Chopping Block: ORD and the Health Risks
Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, former Acting Assistant Administrator for ORD, detailed the danger in eliminating EPA’s scientific backbone: “Dismantling EPA’s Office of Research and Development would devastate the agency’s ability to protect us from legacy pollution, emerging threats. … Guarding against chemicals like PFAS, lead, and wildfire smoke and other harms really depends on sound policy, sound enforcement that’s built around the foundation of sound science.”
She emphasized ORD’s essential role in:
- Chemical risk assessments
- Disaster response
- Supporting states and Tribal Nations with actionable science
Without ORD, Orme-Zavaleta said, “America will no longer have the benefit of the world’s premier environmental health research organization to help us understand the impacts of toxic pollution and other environmental threats.”
ADDITIONAL KEY QUOTES
Marc Boom, former EPA Senior Advisor on policy and EPN Senior Advisor
- “We’re here today because Congress now has the first real opportunity to put some checks on this serial shutdown and to reaffirm that Americans still expect EPA to do its job.”
- “This is a moment of choice for Congress. Passing the Senate approach would send a clear message that the serial shutdown of the EPA must be reined in, that congressional intent must be followed, that Americans still expect guardians on the job protecting their health and safety.”
- “The bill reported out of the House Appropriations Committee … would cut EPA’s budget still by a very large 23%. And that would mean slash enforcement funding, deep cuts to science, a reduction of $1.7 billion, or more than 60%, in what’s available through the state revolving funds for communities that rely on those to keep their drinking water safe.”
David Coursen, former attorney in EPA’s Office of General Counsel
- “This is a lot more than just talking about taking money away from EPA. It’s taking money from the whole regulatory structure, superstructure. And so it’s important to bear that in mind and recognize that states are going to lose a lot of money here. There are grants that go to states and federal assistance that goes to states and logistical support and state revolving (funds that go) to the states.”
Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, former Acting Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development
- “Congress has the chance right now to put up a giant stop sign. Adopting the Senate proposal is the clearest way to protect Americans’ health and safety.”
- “EPA’s first administrator had three guiding principles for the agency, which has been followed for most of the agency’s 55 years of existence, which is to follow the science, follow the law, and be transparent. Science is really foundational to EPA in its ability to achieve its mission, and now it’s at risk.”
EPN has commended the Senate for taking a bipartisan approach to the FY 2026 budget and opposed the massive, partisan cuts to EPA proposed by President Trump (a 55% cut) and by the House.
PRESS RESOURCES:
- Recording of the full webinar is available here
- What’s At Stake EPA Funding Overview
- Nationwide polling shows that 88% of all voters, and 81% of Trump voters, want Congress to increase EPA funding or at least keep funding steady.
- Letter from former senior EPA officials confirmed in both Republican and Democratic administrations opposing deep cuts to EPA’s budget.
- Charts showing how budget proposals stack up to historic funding, and how much of EPA’s budget goes to states and tribes.
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ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NETWORK
Founded in 2017, the Environmental Protection Network harnesses the expertise of more than 700 former EPA career staff and confirmation-level appointees from Democratic and Republican administrations to provide the unique perspective of former scientists and regulators with decades of historical and subject matter knowledge. Find all of EPN’s recent press statements here.