House FY26 Budget Proposal Threatens Maine's Environment and Economy
A new report from the Natural Resources Council of Maine warns of significant environmental risks to Maine if the U.S. House's FY26 budget proposal is enacted. The proposed cuts target the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which could lead to substantial rollbacks in environmental protections and programs.
The report, 'Damaging Maine: The Impacts of Proposed Cuts in the EPA Budget', details how the House's FY26 budget puts Maine's clean air and water at risk. The proposed cuts include deep reductions to key EPA programs, such as a 59% cut to the Superfund program, 43% cut to Clean Air programs, and 26% cut to funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. These cuts could force Maine DEP to scale back work across many key program areas, impacting Maine's environment and communities.
If enacted, these cuts risk undoing decades of progress and could leave a legacy of environmental harm in Maine. Maine's lakes, which provide over $14.3 billion in annual economic value to the state, are at risk from invasive species, warming waters, erosion, and algal blooms. In 2024, DEP received $10.69 million in dedicated grants from EPA, amounting to more than 21.5% of its budget and supporting 102 personnel. The House's FY26 budget targets the EPA for some of the deepest cuts of any domestic agency, cutting its budget by $2.1 billion (23%) and its workforce by 1,274 (23%).
The proposed cuts also eliminate most of the EPA's climate programs and deeply cut scientific research on air, water, and chemical risks. The Natural Resources Council of Maine's report serves as a stark warning of the potential consequences for Maine's environment and economy if these cuts are implemented.
