Donald Trump’s efforts to redefine the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during a period of reduced funding and staffing are seen as a significant danger to water safety and environmental advancements, especially concerning the Hudson River cleanup, a notable environmental triumph in recent US history. Once emblematic of environmental neglect, the Hudson River is now recovering, thanks in part to the efforts of Riverkeeper, an environmental organization credited with inspiring eco-protection models around the globe. Robert F Kennedy Jr, known for his environmental activism, also played a role in the river’s revitalization before joining Trump’s cabinet.
The potential political threats to America’s environment and specifically to Riverkeeper’s work have alarmed its president, Tracy Brown, speaking from the organization’s Ossining headquarters. Brown addressed the seriousness of EPA administrator Lee Zeldin’s recent decision to cut $14 billion in Biden-initiated grants for climate groups, blocked by a court, and to dismiss 1,155 scientists from the EPA’s office of research and development.
Brown stressed the unprecedented attack on EPA’s capacity and the long-term impacts it could have on resources, momentum, knowledge, and public trust, likening it to a “pandemic-level shock” to the system. The contradiction between national policies and judicial rulings is placing the reliability of EPA’s environmental data in jeopardy, which Riverkeeper and similar organizations depend on to guide their efforts. This includes critical assessments on climate change and industrial pollution.
Beside climate adaptation projects, Riverkeeper aims to mitigate the consequences of increased flooding and habitat destruction due to heavier rainfall. This involves removing industrial era dams but risks releasing toxic contaminants like PFA pollution. There are also concerns about potential dam failures due to extreme weather conditions, with federal funding for such projects now uncertain.
The situation has bred a climate of fear among environmentalists. Despite this, Riverkeeper is looking to community support to bolster local environmental initiatives, as Brown highlighted the need for public recognition of individual action’s significance in environmental conservation.
Brown acknowledged the historical overreliance on government intervention and suggested the current situation serves as a wake-up call for collective community action. She emphasized that, despite political battles, there is a shared commitment to the environment across different political affiliations, calling the portrayal of Republicans as anti-environment a false narrative manipulated by corporate interests.
Despite the harsh environmental policies of the Trump administration, Brown had initially hoped for a more positive stance from EPA administrator Zeldin. However, the latest actions have dashed these hopes, leaving environmental advocates bracing for continued challenges to their work and the broader environmental future.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/31/epa-cuts-environment-rivers-water-trump
