During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump commended EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for proposing significant budget cuts and a major reduction in the agency’s workforce. However, hours later, the White House clarified that Trump had misspoken, stating that the EPA planned to cut 65% of its budget rather than its staff—a statement that had initially caused concern among agency employees.
The incident highlighted ongoing confusion within the federal government as the administration pushed to streamline bureaucracy through spending cuts and workforce reductions.
During the meeting, Trump stated that Zeldin intended to reduce EPA staff by 65% and expedite the process. However, a White House spokesperson later corrected this, explaining that the target was a 65% reduction in wasteful EPA spending, not personnel.
The spokesperson referenced $20 billion in potentially misallocated funds, specifically the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which the Biden administration had allocated to nonprofit groups via Citibank. While the EPA has not found evidence of fraud, it is working to reclaim the funds.
A budget cut of this magnitude would inevitably impact staffing levels. The White House had recently directed the EPA and other agencies to submit workforce reduction plans by mid-March. Earlier this month, the EPA had already laid off 388 employees, though some have since been rehired.
In response, the EPA did not directly address Trump’s remarks but reaffirmed its commitment to efficiency and cost-cutting measures. The agency, which operates on an annual budget of approximately $10 billion, aims to cut expenses through grant reductions, real estate reassessments, and personnel restructuring.
During his first term, Trump had frequently proposed major budget cuts for the EPA, though Congress consistently resisted significant reductions. Environmental groups strongly criticized Trump’s initial statement about slashing 65% of EPA staff, arguing that such a move would weaken environmental protections and favor corporate polluters.
Additionally, Trump suggested that the EPA’s payroll included nonexistent employees, though he did not provide specifics. The White House and EPA have yet to comment on the accuracy of this claim or its potential implications.
