Dismantling the EPA, FEMA, and NOAA Hurts the American People

Review of recent Trump Administration actions impacting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with a focus on deregulation, scientific research, and disaster preparedness.

In July 2025, the Trump administration has taken significant steps to dismantle environmental regulations and reduce federal involvement in climate science and disaster response. Key actions include:

1. Elimination of the EPA's Scientific Research Arm: The EPA is proceeding with firing hundreds of scientists and eliminating its Office of Research and Development (ORD), which provides independent research underpinning agency policies and regulations.
2. Proposed Rescission of EPA's "Endangerment Finding": The EPA has proposed to revoke the 2009 "endangerment finding," which legally allows the agency to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. This move aims to eliminate a wide range of climate regulations on vehicles, power plants, and oil and gas emissions.
3. Uncertainty and Cuts to FEMA: The administration is sending "shifting signals" regarding the future of FEMA, with calls to eliminate or remake the agency. FEMA has already suspended the $882 million Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, leading to lawsuits from states and concerns about their ability to manage increasing disaster costs.
4. Proposed Closure of Key NOAA Climate Observatories: The proposed 2026 budget for NOAA would end climate research at the agency, specifically targeting the closure of the Mauna Loa Observatory and three other critical monitoring stations. These observatories are crucial for tracking greenhouse gas concentrations and providing long-term climate data.

These actions are driven by a stated desire to reduce regulatory burdens on industries so they can profit while the people suffer, increase economic growth while the environment suffers, and a belief that federal agencies like the EPA and FEMA are inefficient, which is not true. Expect devastating impacts on public health, the environment, and the nation's ability to understand and respond to climate change and natural disasters.