Trump Administration's 2026 Budget: Drastic Cuts at NOAA and the EPA

The Trump administration's 2026 budget calls for massive funding cuts at NOAA and the EPA, two of the country's most important agencies when it comes to our coasts, ocean, and health. 

On May 2, President Trump unveiled a budget plan for fiscal year 2026 that proposes sweeping cuts to agencies and programs that ocean and coastal communities rely on. While Congress will come up with its own spending plan, the administration’s wish list calls for significantly less funding in the year to come for many programs across a variety of departments and agencies, including a whopping 55% reduction in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The administration's budget aligns with his executive actions so far this year, like those calling to dramatically weaken environmental, climate research, clean energy, and environmental justice programs.

As Congress develops its budget bill for 2026, the time is now for us to urge our representatives to ensure that the federal programs critical to the health of our ocean, waves, and beaches are protected.

Why We Care
The health of our coasts and ocean cannot depend solely on the efforts of volunteers, local organizations, states, and local governments. The federal government plays an enormous role in protecting habitats and clean water, monitoring beach water quality, informing the public of health hazards like sewage spills and industrial discharges, safeguarding marine wildlife, researching climate change, and so much more.

The cuts proposed by the administration will slash spending across programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. agency responsible for managing our ocean and coasts and monitoring weather and climate, and the EPA, which implements and enforces laws that protect human health and our environment.

Without adequate staffing and funding for these agencies, critical programs for our coasts and ocean are at risk. This includes NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuaries, which protect 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters, and the EPA’s Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act grants programs, which supports water quality monitoring and public health protection at more than 4,500 beaches nationwide.

Here are some of the programs to be cut in the administration's 2026 budget:

Potential Elimination of Beach Water Quality Monitoring and Pollution Prevention Programs

• $1 billion cut to EPA grant programs, including the potential elimination of the nation’s premier beach water quality monitoring program (BEACH Act Grant Program) and binational pollution reduction program (the U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Grant Program).
• $2.46 billion cut to EPA Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds, slashing support to states to invest in their water infrastructure needs. 

Elimination of Coastal Management and Ocean Protection Programs

• $1.7 billion in cuts to NOAA programs that would end funding for the Coastal Zone Management Grant Program, which supports states in managing coastal resources and planning.

Defunding Research, Science, and Clean Energy Innovation

• $1.3 billion cut to NOAA operations, research, and grants, terminating a variety of climate research, data, and grant programs.
• $209 million cut to NOAA weather satellites and infrastructure, weakening critical weather monitoring capabilities.
• $15.25 billion cut and cancellation of renewable energy funds, undermining significant investments for the transition to a clean energy economy.
• $1.16 billion cut to NASA Earth Science, setting back critical climate monitoring and research.
• $3.48 billion cut to National Science Foundation research in climate, clean energy, and environmental justice programs.
  

What’s Next 
In a time of unprecedented threats to our coasts, we need more investments, not less. In the weeks ahead, Congress will debate and amend the proposed federal budget, coming up with one of their own to be signed into law. Now is the time to speak up for programs and people that protect our nation’s air, land, and water. 

Surfrider asks that you take action today by:

• Signing our Action Alert calling on Congress to continue funding for NOAA and its programs. We will deliver your request to your representatives asking for more funding for National Marine Sanctuaries, Coastal Zone Management, and climate research.
• Signing our Action Alert to protect funding, staffing and regulatory authority of the EPA  to ensure that our environment, economy, and our families’ health are protected.
• Joining your local chapter or student club. Protecting our coasts and ocean begins on our beaches, not the halls of Congress. Your chapter’s programs and advocacy provides volunteer opportunities to protect our coasts today.
• Making a donation to Surfrider. Your donation directly supports Surfrider's programs and campaigns, despite the challenges that exist.