Climate science, policy, politics, and action
Full committee markup. Originally scheduled for 11 am and to include the Ag bill.
Subcommittee hearing.
Witness:
Lee Zeldin, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
For the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency), the President seeks $4.2 billion in base discretionary budget authority for FY 2027—a reduction of $4.6 billion (a 52.4 percent reduction) from the FY 2026 enacted level of $8.8 billion. EPA’s budget request would support a workforce of 12,500 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers.
EPA requests $1.7 million in new funding to administer the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024. This program will issue “Good Samaritan” permits and investigative sampling permits to remediators of legacy hardrock mines, who will be exempt from liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Clean Water Act.
EPA seeks the reconsideration of greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). In FY 2027, EPA intends to address New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) actions under the Clean Air Act for sources of air pollutants in multiple categories including those in the power plant, oil, and natural gas sectors.
EPA plans to identify Brownfields and Superfund sites for qualifying AI projects and develop guidance for more efficient environmental reviews for certain reuse.
EPA seeks to reduce regulations on the auto industry and encourage domestic manufacturing. In FY 2027, EPA will reconsider and reevaluate three major on-road vehicle regulations.
The FY 2027 budget request proposes reductions in the following program areas:
Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds. EPA proposes a reduction of $2.5 billion. The reduction would return primary responsibility for funding local water infrastructure projects to states. The budget would provide $305 million to allow states to adjust to alternative funding sources.
Categorical Grants. EPA proposes a reduction of $1.1 billion. The proposed budget includes an approximately 91 percent decrease from FY 2026 enacted levels. This includes elimination of most categorical grants while maintaining funding for the Tribes and Underground Injection Control grants.
Office of Research and Development. EPA proposes a reduction of $235 million. The proposed budget would provide $281 million for statutorily required research in support of EPA’s core mission areas.
Federal Support for Air Quality Management. EPA proposes a reduction of $112.7 million. This program supports the development of state implementation plans and administers air grants. Civil Enforcement. EPA proposes a reduction of $94.1 million. The proposed budget would provide $137 million for the Civil Enforcement Program which ensures compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
Criminal Enforcement. EPA proposes a reduction of $54.6 million. The proposed budget would provide $33.9 million for the Criminal Enforcement Program which enforces environmental laws investigating criminal conduct.
Research: Air and Energy. EPA proposes a reduction of $63.2 million. The proposed budget would include $32.0 million for this research program that provides assessments of air quality impacts.
Targeted Airshed Grants. EPA proposes a reduction of $31.6 million. The proposed budget would provide $36.2 million for the Targeted Airshed program.
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Fund (WIFIA). EPA proposes a reduction of $64 million. The WIFIA program provides low-cost loans for large water and wastewater projects.
Subcommittee hearing.
Witness:
NOAA budget cut by $1.6 billion, 32%.
Again proposes to eliminate the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, effectively eliminating all NOAA research labs and cooperative institutes.
Proposes to eliminate the NOAA Sea Grant office and its outreach and extension programs.
The National Weather Service has a proposed topline budget of $1.368B, an increase of $8M over FY26 (less than 0.1%). The agency also has a proposed procurement budget of $136M, an increase of $32M over FY26.
The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS), the NOAA entity that oversees the nation’s weather satellite and climate data programs, has a proposed topline of $321M, a decrease of $77M or about 19%. As the procurer of satellite systems, NESDIS has a much larger procurement budget, and that number for FY27 is $1.255B, a small ($13M) reduction over FY26.
Subcommittee hearing.
Witnesses:
Lee Zeldin, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Paige Hallen Hanson, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
For the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency), the President seeks $4.2 billion in base discretionary budget authority for FY 2027—a reduction of $4.6 billion (a 52.4 percent reduction) from the FY 2026 enacted level of $8.8 billion. EPA’s budget request would support a workforce of 12,500 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers.
EPA requests $1.7 million in new funding to administer the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024. This program will issue “Good Samaritan” permits and investigative sampling permits to remediators of legacy hardrock mines, who will be exempt from liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Clean Water Act.
EPA seeks the reconsideration of greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). In FY 2027, EPA intends to address New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) actions under the Clean Air Act for sources of air pollutants in multiple categories including those in the power plant, oil, and natural gas sectors.
EPA plans to identify Brownfields and Superfund sites for qualifying AI projects and develop guidance for more efficient environmental reviews for certain reuse.
EPA seeks to reduce regulations on the auto industry and encourage domestic manufacturing. In FY 2027, EPA will reconsider and reevaluate three major on-road vehicle regulations.
The FY 2027 budget request proposes reductions in the following program areas:
Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds. EPA proposes a reduction of $2.5 billion. The reduction would return primary responsibility for funding local water infrastructure projects to states. The budget would provide $305 million to allow states to adjust to alternative funding sources.
Categorical Grants. EPA proposes a reduction of $1.1 billion. The proposed budget includes an approximately 91 percent decrease from FY 2026 enacted levels. This includes elimination of most categorical grants while maintaining funding for the Tribes and Underground Injection Control grants.
Office of Research and Development. EPA proposes a reduction of $235 million. The proposed budget would provide $281 million for statutorily required research in support of EPA’s core mission areas.
Federal Support for Air Quality Management. EPA proposes a reduction of $112.7 million. This program supports the development of state implementation plans and administers air grants.
Civil Enforcement. EPA proposes a reduction of $94.1 million. The proposed budget would provide $137 million for the Civil Enforcement Program which ensures compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
Criminal Enforcement. EPA proposes a reduction of $54.6 million. The proposed budget would provide $33.9 million for the Criminal Enforcement Program which enforces environmental laws investigating criminal conduct.
Research: Air and Energy. EPA proposes a reduction of $63.2 million. The proposed budget would include $32.0 million for this research program that provides assessments of air quality impacts.
Targeted Airshed Grants. EPA proposes a reduction of $31.6 million. The proposed budget would provide $36.2 million for the Targeted Airshed program.
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Fund (WIFIA). EPA proposes a reduction of $64 million. The WIFIA program provides low-cost loans for large water and wastewater projects.
Subcommittee hearing.
Witness:
The Administration requested $18.829 billion for NASA in FY27. This represents a decrease of $5.61 billion (23%) from FY26 enacted appropriations, including a 46% cut in the science budget.
The FY27 request for the Earth Science Division is $1.02 billion, a decrease of $1.13 billion (52.6%) from FY26 enacted. The Earth Science Division focuses on deepening our understanding of our home planet and its interconnected systems, as guided by the 2018 Decadal Survey, Thriving on Our Changing Planet. The FY27 request supports one final government satellite for the Landsat program, while supporting advancements to Sustained Land Imaging to enable a commercial solution for Landsat. The request reduces funding for Earth System Explorers’ Future missions, with planned adjustments to the implementation schedule for the mission selected for FY26. Additionally, the request reduces funding for Earth Science Technology, terminating or delaying activities within the Instrument Incubator project and Advanced Technology Initiatives, in violation of the Decadal Survey.
Biological and Physical Sciences: The FY27 budget request for the Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division is $25 million, a $61 million decrease (70.9%) from FY26 enacted, in violation of the 2023 Biological and Physical Sciences Decadal Survey. The Division supports research in space to obtain insights into how biological and physical systems function under altered gravity and deep-space radiation. BPS has five goals, which align with the 2023-2032 Decadal Survey, in Quantum Leaps, Precision Health, Space Crops, Foundations, and Space Labs. Under reduced funding, the budget request focuses support on two new projects: Exploration Science and Quantum Science. The Exploration Science project supports research efforts on high-priority activities to support future Moon and Mars missions. Building on organchip research from Artemis II, scientists will use microphysiological systems (tiny models of human tissue) to study how space conditions affect health. The Quantum Science project funds the Cold Atom Laboratory, currently conducting experiments on the ISS, along with other experiments used to further NASA’s understanding of physics and scientific theories.
The Administration’s FY27 budget requests no funding for NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM). OSTEM manages four projects: National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project (Space Grant), Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), and Next Generation STEM project (Next Gen STEM), all proposed to be cut by the request. The request proposes to use the remaining balances under OSTEM to support the closeout of OSTEM activities.
The Committee on Rules will meet Monday, April 27, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET in H-313, The Capitol on the following measures:
Calling all techies, solar punks, audio wizards, and anyOne who knows you cannot be replaced by a robot …
For many moons and solar returns, Bike-partyers from aRound the world have embarked on deep-space exploration seeking a way of connecting sound bikes and speakers on the move…
Some have cracked the code, others want to try out some new gadgets, others just want to boogie through the city on wheels.
During this year’s DC Climate Week, solarpunk dc and our fellow volunteers at DC Bike Party will gather in the first of a series of ~hackathons to see if it can be done Here!
Meet at DuPont Circle Fountain
The Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) is hosting a free networking event for climate policy professionals and leaders in the Washington, DC area as part of DC Climate Week. Join us for drinks, conversation, and an evening of connecting with others working to advance climate action.
CCAP is a nonprofit think tank celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026. Our mission is to support every step of climate action—from ambition to implementation—by helping translate climate goals into practical solutions.
700 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Join Climate and Community Institute, Lead Locally, and Groundwork Action for our Stop Greed, Build Green Happy Hour!
With prices unsustainably high on everything from energy to food, it’s time to stop greed and build the sustainable, healthy economy we all deserve.
Join friends new and old at Dirty Habit on April 23rd at 5pm to hear more about CCI’s just-launched Stop Greed Build Green, a strategic framework and agenda putting working people in charge of the economy and the climate transition.
Come out to forge connections to take back control of our economy.
Dirty Habit
555 8th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20004