· 3 min read
illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on POLITICO or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: The U.S. government shutdown is disrupting federal climate efforts across six key agencies, intensifying the Trump administration’s prior attempts to dismantle climate offices
• While operations like fossil fuel permitting continue under fee-based funding, many environmental and health-related functions — especially at the CDC, NOAA, and State Department — have been suspended
• EPA staff remain at work temporarily, but furloughs are expected as soon as remaining funds are exhausted
🔭 The context: This shutdown follows a series of efforts by the Trump administration to scale back federal climate programs, including attempts to dissolve the CDC’s environmental health division and to disband EPA’s climate teams
• The shutdown has halted many recently resumed programs, such as CDC's asthma and wildfire smoke response initiatives, while international climate diplomacy is also on pause due to furloughs at the State Department
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The loss of federal capacity to address climate health impacts, conduct environmental research, and participate in global negotiations comes at a critical moment for climate action
• Programs that support community resilience to air pollution and heatwaves are suspended, while renewable energy permitting is halted offshore
• Meanwhile, fossil fuel development continues unabated, reinforcing emissions-intensive pathways and undercutting long-term sustainability goals
⏭️ What's next: If Congress does not act swiftly, EPA will likely furlough nearly 90% of its staff, further delaying the implementation of climate and pollution reduction programs under the Inflation Reduction Act
• The U.S. is also set to miss major international negotiations, including COP30 in Brazil and key maritime climate policy meetings
• Domestically, the expiration of the National Flood Insurance Program is already disrupting property markets and could leave households without flood coverage if a storm hits
💬 One quote: “The only thing we actually know is that they’ve threatened to use this time as an excuse to fire more staff, tear down more programs,” — Jeremy Symons, Environmental Protection Network
📈 One stat: More than 70% of staff at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management have been furloughed, suspending all renewable energy work, while oil and gas lease planning continues
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