Michelle Roos and Jeremy Symons, “A Breath of Fresh Air at the EPA, But Budget, Staff Need Boost”

The EPA is back to work under the Biden administration, these authors say, and four key steps have aided the agency in its mission: 1) competent leadership in the form of Michael Regan; 2) restoration of the EPA’s climate change website and the integrity of independent science advisory committees; 3) a clear direction has formed towards environmental justice for historically marginalized communities; and 4) Trump-era rollbacks are being scaled back. However, as the EPA’s budget lingers at less than 1% of the total federal discretionary budget, more funding must be directed to the agency to fulfill its mission. Congress must invest in the EPA, its core operating programs, public health, jobs, pollution clean-up, and the protection of vulnerable communities.