In brief
The move raises concerns about public health and environmental safety as grants focused on addressing pesticide exposure and forever chemicals are scrapped.
The Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) is set to cancel a significant number of grants intended for research on environmental threats to children, according to internal correspondence from agency officials. The funding cancellations, which affect both pending and active research grants, occur as part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to roll back various E.P.A. functions.These grants were meant to support crucial research addressing the health of children in rural communities, particularly those exposed to pesticides, smoke from wildfires, and the controversial "forever chemicals" known for their persistence in the environment. An email from Dan Coogan, a deputy assistant administrator at the E.P.A., revealed that agency leadership has directed staff to terminate multiple programs, including the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) and the People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) initiative, which funds student-led environmental projects.In the recently concluded funding cycle, innovative projects such as the development of compostable packaging and antiviral masks made from plastic waste were in progress. The abrupt halt to this funding signals a troubling shift in how the federal government approaches environmental research and public health, with implications that could resonate for years to come. The email outlined the directive thoroughly, emphasizing the scope of grant cancellations impacting essential environmental health programs.
