President Trump today proposed a fiscal year 2026 budget that would devastate the federal government’s ability to lead efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams.
For decades, restoring the Chesapeake Bay has relied on resources and strong leadership from multiple federal agencies working in partnership with the six watershed states and Washington, D.C.
The president’s proposed fiscal year 2026 “skinny” budget—which he is expected to provide further details on in the coming weeks—would gut funding for key federal agencies involved in Chesapeake Bay restoration, and eliminate resources that support joint state and federal cleanup efforts.
The proposed budget also targets cuts towards many programs focused on climate change research, environmental injustices, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
The budget would slash the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) funding by $5 billion, or 54.5 percent—reducing it from $9.1 billion this year to $4.2 billion in fiscal year 2026.
Roughly half of the cuts—about $2.46 billion—would cripple loan programs that help states upgrade water treatment infrastructure to reduce nitrogen and other pollutants harmful to the Bay and its rivers and streams.
An additional $1 billion in cuts would eliminate numerous state grant programs, including those that Bay states rely on to improve local water quality, reduce polluted runoff, and meet their Bay cleanup commitments.
The Trump Administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget would eliminate $1.3 billion in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grants and research, targeting climate and education programs.
These funds help NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office conduct work and research that restores and protects native species like oysters, blue crabs, and striped bass, and improve climate resilience in the region. They also fund hands-on environmental education through the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and Training (B-WET) program, helping to cultivate the next generation of Bay stewards.
Also slated for major cuts is funding for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget calls for slashing $564 million from USGS surveys, investigations, and research programs—eliminating climate-related work “to instead focus on achieving dominance in energy and critical minerals.” The Bay states and the federal government rely on USGS’s data to meet water quality goals and inform strategies for protecting the Bay region’s lands, waterways, fish, and wildlife.
The budget also cuts technical assistance and personnel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) who work with farmers to implement conservation practices. Many USDA conservation programs have waitlists, as farmers seek to implement practices like planting trees along streams, rotating grazing land, and fencing livestock out of streams. Cutting these programs would be detrimental to state and federal restoration efforts.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) President and CEO Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement:
“The White House’s proposed budget would unravel decades of partnership and progress restoring the Bay and local waterways. The federal government must lead Bay cleanup efforts and support state restoration work—not undermine it.
“These proposed cuts would leave already-strapped states struggling to meet their clean water commitments and manage natural resources. The budget would choke off essential restoration funding—including efforts to rebuild oyster populations and help farmers reduce polluted runoff. It would also virtually eliminate cutting-edge research and data collection critical for restoring water quality and building climate resilience.
“It’s not too late to stop these draconian cuts. Everyone who loves the Bay should tell Congress to reject the dangerous rollbacks in the White House budget. The Bay, its waterways, and the nearly 19 million people living in the Chesapeake region deserve better.”
Washington, D.C. Communications & Media Relations Manager, CBF
lcaruso@cbf.org
202-793-4485
