Mich. senators slam reported Trump cuts to EPA Great Lakes program



Michigan’s two Democratic senators on Friday hammered a report that President Trump will look to nearly wipe out a federal Great Lakes cleanup fund. 

A document from the National Association of Clean Air Agencies says the White House is considering a 97 percent reduction in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding for Great Lakes restoration. The program — currently a $300 million account — would receive only $10 million under the proposed budget, Michigan Live reported Friday.

The EPA’s Great Lakes fund supports state and local projects for the five lakes and their surrounding states, focusing on invasive species, wildlife habitats and watershed pollution. 
Lawmakers have reversed previous proposed cuts to the program. A spokesman for Rep. Bill Huizenga, the Michigan congressman who chairs the House Great Lakes Task Force, told Michigan Live a cut the size of Trump’s “would face strong bipartisan opposition” in Congress. 

Details of potential spending cuts at the EPA raised bipartisan opposition this week, with new EPA administrator Scott Pruitt even saying he will try to convince the White House to back away from some of its spending proposals.