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EPA takes biggest hit in Trump budget

The Environmental Protection Agency is taking the brunt of cuts in the Trump administration’s 2018 budget proposal.

A proposed 31 percent cut to the agency would eliminate nearly 20 percent of the department’s staff and shave $2.6 billion dollars from the total budget.

The proposal does call for a $4 million increase for State Revolving Funds and leaves the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program untouched to invest in drinking and wastewater infrastructure.

The budget would eliminate funding for the Clean Power Plan which was an Obama initiative to combat climate change and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Cuts were also made to the Hazardous Substance Superfund Account, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance budget, Office of Research and Development, regional water quality programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiate and Chesapeake Bay Initiative, as well as grant funding and more than 50 other EPA programs.