The article discusses the turmoil facing the Chesapeake Bay cleanup program amid Donald Trump’s administration. The program, spanning 42 years across seven administrations, is suffering significant staff reductions and potential funding cuts, exacerbating fears that its goals—including critical nutrient pollution targets—will remain unmet by the 2025 deadline.
Advocates express concerns over lost federal positions that threaten the program’s effectiveness, with reports of layoffs and stressed staff morale. Although the EPA administrator has expressed support for the Bay Program, Trump’s budget proposals suggest significant cuts, leading to uncertainty about future funding.
As the Bay cleanup effort revises its 2014 agreement, changes may eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, following federal directives. The proposed revisions emphasize workforce development while acknowledging the critical relationship between climate change and the Bay’s restoration. Environmental advocates warn that sidelining climate issues could significantly undermine cleanup efforts.
The situation has sparked bipartisan legislative efforts against the staff cuts, with some former employees expressing concern over the future of environmental science in the Bay region.
