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House appropriators press EPA on FY26 ‘skinny’ budget, reorganization and grant cuts
Summary
During a House appropriations hearing, EPA Administrator Zeldin defended the administration’s FY26 “skinny” budget request, including deep cuts to categorical grants and an agency reorganization, while Democrats warned the proposal would hollow out science capacity and shift costs to states.
EPA Administrator Zeldin told House appropriators on the Rayburn Office Building hearing room floor that the administration’s fiscal year 2026 “skinny” budget seeks to shrink agency spending and realign priorities even as members from both parties warned of consequences.
The hearing’s most immediate budget figure: “The request provides 4,200,000,000 for the EPA,” a committee member said during opening remarks, describing that amount as roughly $5 billion below the FY2025 continuing resolution. That shortfall, coupled with proposed changes to how EPA awards grants and runs programs, was the subject of sustained questioning.
Why it matters: The proposed cuts would reduce categorical grants that states use to run federally delegated environmental programs, change grant administration, and accompany a reorganization of EPA offices. Members from both parties said those…
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