The proposal highlights the Trump White House’s continued effort to undermine environmental research funding and regulations. | Getty White House seeks 17 percent budget cut for climate agency

The White House is proposing to cut the budget of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a leading government agency on climate science, by a reported 17 percent.

The funding slash would hamper NOAA’s research funding and satellite programs while eliminating altogether funding for smaller programs on coastal management and estuary reserve efforts, among others, according to a memo obtained by the Washington Post Friday. The Commerce Department, which NOAA is a part of, is facing an 18 percent funding cut under the proposal by the Trump administration.


Among the satellite programs facing the largest cuts is the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, which houses climate and environmental information through the National Centers for Environmental Information. Researchers in that program have studied the continuing rate of global climate change. Another would be the Sea Grant program, which currently supports university research programs at 33 institutions nationwide.

The proposal highlights the Trump White House’s continued effort to undermine environmental research funding and regulations.

Since taking office President Donald Trump and his administration have moved swiftly to push back against the environmental agenda, repealing Clean Water Act protections for wetlands, proposing signifcant cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency and considering roll backs for President Barack Obama’s signature climate change regulations.

Trump campaigned fiercely against the EPA and other environmental agencies, vowing on the trail to “get rid of” the agency “in almost every form.”