The Trump administration is rewriting policies and reducing funding for multiple agencies that handle climate change, including NOAA, EPA and FEMA. We asked NPR reporters Lauren Sommer and Alejandra Borunda what that the implications of that are — and who the changes will affect.Want to hear more ways research is being impacted by the new administration? Email us at [email protected] to let us know — and we may cover your idea in a future episode!Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
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You're listening to Shortwave from NPR. Since he took office, President Trump has made sweeping changes to federal agencies that work on climate change. On April 8th of this year, he issued several new executive orders, lifting regulations on fossil fuels, allowing new coal projects on federal land, and ending what he calls, quote, woke policies that support renewable energy.
Every day under the Trump administration, we will continue to lower costs for American families, create jobs for American workers. And very importantly, unlock unlimited amounts of affordable American energy, including beautiful, clean coal.
He has slashed the budgets and shifted the directives of key government agencies, especially when it comes to funding research, regulating pollution, and responding to climate-related disasters. And again, Trump says this is all in service of everyday Americans. But what will be the impact of Trump's actions on those everyday Americans in the future?
For answers, we brought in NPR climate reporters Alejandra Barunda and Lauren Sommer. What do you both think?
Yeah, so if you're someone who lives in a coastal community that's prone to hurricanes, or honestly, if you just want to check the weather forecast, then the changes at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, could affect you.
Or maybe you're in one of the thousands of communities that are trying to prepare for disasters, you know, like hurricanes or wildfires, and you apply for federal funding, that's completely changing too.
So today we're going to recap these budget cuts and policy changes, focusing on three government agencies that deal with climate and the environment. The EPA, NOAA and FEMA, with an eye towards their real world impacts on the Americans that President Trump says he wants to support. I'm Emily Kwong and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.
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