To: Interested Parties
From: Evergreen Action Senior Director for Digital Content and Narrative Sam Holman
Date: May 2, 2025
Re: Trump’s Budget: Slashing Support for Working Families to Fund Billionaire Tax Breaks
Donald Trump’s FY26 Budget Proposal reveals a dangerous agenda: dismantling climate and environmental programs that benefit everyday Americans—all to hand more tax breaks to billionaires. Instead of investing in job creation, cleaner air, and lower energy costs, this budget is built to funnel public dollars into the pockets of the ultra-wealthy.
Evergreen dug into what team Trump is touting about their proposal. Here’s a breakdown of what gets cut—so the richest few can get richer:
• Clean energy and climate programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Trump’s budget eliminates over $15 billion in IIJA funding for programs that support clean electricity, carbon removal technologies, and climate-resilient infrastructure—initiatives that lower energy bills, reduce pollution, and create good-paying jobs. And they are going to take that money and hand it to billionaires.
• EV charging infrastructure: The budget cuts $6 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, a critical investment to build a nationwide EV charging network. This rollback undercuts domestic manufacturing, energy independence, and cleaner transportation options for working families. And they are going to take that money and hand it to billionaires.
• U.S. contributions to international climate finance: Trump proposes zeroing out U.S. support for the Global Environment Facility and the Climate Investment Funds. These partnerships strengthen climate resilience in developing countries—while protecting global stability and keeping the U.S. at the table on climate leadership. They are going to take that money and hand it to billionaires.
• Environmental justice funding at EPA: The proposal slashes $100 million from the EPA’s environmental justice programs, gutting support for historically overburdened communities facing the worst effects of pollution and climate change. These cuts erase progress toward a healthier, more equitable future. And they are going to take that money and hand it to billionaires.
• Community science and public engagement programs: Grants that support environmental justice organizations and community-based science initiatives are eliminated. These programs gave frontline communities tools to monitor pollution, engage in policy, and build local climate solutions. And they are going to take that money and hand it to billionaires.
• Community Change Grants: The budget wipes out funding for EPA’s Community Change Grants, a program delivering resources directly to underserved neighborhoods for clean energy and environmental upgrades. Taking away these funds cuts off lifelines to communities long left behind. And they are going to take that money and hand it to billionaires.
• Climate research and disaster preparedness at NOAA: The budget defunds critical NOAA programs that provide the data and forecasting tools communities rely on to prepare for extreme weather and climate disasters. From wildfire smoke to hurricanes and floods, NOAA’s climate research helps save lives and reduce the enormous costs of climate disasters that fall hardest on working people. Cutting these programs weakens our ability to respond to the growing threats of climate change—leaving families and local governments in the dark. They are going to take this money and hand it to billionaires.
• Clean energy innovation and R&D: Trump’s plan slashes $2.5 billion from the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office. It also cuts the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), undermining America’s competitive edge in clean energy technology and slowing climate progress. And they are going to take that money and hand it to billionaires.
• Renewable energy programs at the Department of the Interior: Trump’s budget cuts $80 million from the Department of the Interior’s renewable energy programs, halting progress on responsibly developed clean energy projects. These programs help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lower energy costs, and support good union jobs across the country. Eliminating them sets back efforts to build a clean, reliable, affordable energy grid. They are going to take this money and hand it to billionaires.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conservation programs: The budget cuts funding for BLM’s conservation efforts, which protect public lands, restore wildlife habitats, and support climate resilience across the country. These programs also fund community engagement and climate education initiatives—like those that help young people understand how the climate crisis affects their future. The Trump budget goes with the “stick our head in the sand” approach to climate education. They are going to take this money and hand it to billionaires.