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[In Depth] Trump targets environmental science for cuts

ScienceNOW - Fetched: March 9th, 2017, 3:00pm UTC

A key tactic in President Donald Trump's assault on federal environmental regulations has emerged: Choke off the public funding for the science that underpins them. Last week, leaked White House memos revealed that the administration is considering deep spending cuts at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The preliminary proposals include a 40% cut to EPA's science arm, and a 17% cut to NOAA's research office. White House officials say the cuts are needed to boost spending on a higher priority: the armed forces. But critics say they will cripple government efforts to protect the environment and public health, manage economically important fisheries, and predict the impacts of climate change. It is not yet clear whether the preliminary numbers will make it into the White House's official 2018 budget request to Congress, scheduled to be released on 16 March. And members of Congress from both parties have already expressed doubts about some the cuts. Authors: David Malakoff, Warren Cornwall

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