A Trump Administration memo issued Feb. 26 spells disaster for the Chesapeake Bay, directing federal agencies to prepare for mass layoffs. The Trump Administration yesterday also announced a 65 percent cut to the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget.
Since the first Chesapeake Bay Agreement in 1983, the federal government has worked with states to reduce pollution to the Chesapeake Bay, with the EPA acting as lead federal partner. Because pollution to the Bay crosses state lines, strong federal leadership has been crucial to bringing states together for a healthier Bay. This has resulted in successes that range from the return of historic oyster reefs to massive cuts in pollution from sewage treatment plants.
The federal government’s role in Chesapeake Bay restoration is a statutory requirement, as enshrined in section 117(g) of the Clean Water Act.
Recent federal actions that threaten the Chesapeake Bay include:
- The federal freeze on grant funding, which has halted projects around the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The majority of federal investment in Chesapeake Bay restoration goes to states and communities through grants, which support everything from farmers installing conservation practices, to projects that reduce flooding in cities, to work on the ground by local organizations.
- Unprecedented reductions to the federal workforce, including through buyouts, layoffs, and the proposed mass firings outlined in the Feb. 26 memo. These are leading to a major loss of expertise and knowledge from federal agencies, including EPA, NOAA, and the USDA.
- Significant proposed budget cuts to federal agencies. While EPA is charged with leading and coordinating federal involvement, many federal agencies play a vital role in the comprehensive Bay cleanup.
CBF President and CEO Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement.
“The Trump administration has rolled out an existential crisis for the decades-long Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. Taking a wrecking ball to federal agencies and grants not only cripples progress, it will leave future generations with air choked by emissions, fouled beaches where it’s unsafe to swim, and empty tables at crab feasts.
“Cuts to federal programs risk destroying more than 40 years of collaborative federal/state efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay—a national treasure. Predating many of our nation’s bedrock environmental policies, science-based efforts to restore the Bay are heralded as an international model of restoration and conservation success. If what’s happening here is any indication, the rest of our nation’s waters are in jeopardy.
“Hollowing out agencies and defunding grant programs wreaks havoc far beyond the federal government. States will face major budget shortfalls, critical scientific research will stop, farmers will be stuck with out-of-pocket expenses the federal government promised to pay, and many local nonprofits may cease to exist. These are the groups doing the valuable work of restoration—planting trees at churches and neighborhood playgrounds, testing water quality to let residents know if it’s safe to swim, and performing countless other invaluable services for their communities.
“The Chesapeake Bay cleanup is not only historic; it is legally mandated. The Clean Water Act specifically requires the federal government to coordinate Chesapeake Bay restoration, pulling together six states working together for healthy waterways, thriving communities, and strong local economies.
“Leadership is more important than ever as the federal/state Chesapeake Bay Agreement is revised this year. A goal of that process is to make restoring the Bay more efficient and effective in the face of challenges from climate change, population growth, and growing sources of pollution.
“Pollution is costly—to our environment, our health, our livelihoods, and our future. After so much progress, ending investments in clean water now ends the promise of leaving a vibrant Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and related economies to the next generation.
“We cannot allow a healthy Chesapeake Bay to be a casualty of misguided efforts to root out waste. The Chesapeake Bay is not a waste. The health and wellbeing of the 18 million people who live here is not a waste. The thousands of amazing and unique species that depend on it are not a waste. Our culture and way of life are not a waste. Losing decades of progress, undermining science, destroying an effective federal/state partnership, and jeopardizing our future—that's not just a waste, it’s a tragedy.
“It’s never been more important to band together. We are restoring waterways, finding solutions, and creating healthier communities. The effort to save the Bay has always been fueled by the people who love this place. Now, it will take all of us to stand up for it.”
