President Trump’s newly released 2026 budget proposal outlines cuts totaling over $15 billion in federal support for carbon capture and renewable energy programs. The proposal signals a shift toward promoting fossil fuels and nuclear energy, moving away from climate-focused policies.
The White House plan, which aims to reduce non-defense spending by $163 billion, also eliminates $6 billion in funding for electric vehicle (EV) chargers, which was part of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. The administration argues that overregulation and climate justice priorities have slowed charger deployment and suggests that the private sector should handle EV infrastructure, similar to how gas stations are built.
The Department of Energy would see its funding redirected toward oil, gas, coal, nuclear energy, and critical minerals research and development. However, details on this shift remain unclear. Offshore wind projects and renewable programs within the Interior Department would face cuts of $80 million. Additionally, $1.3 billion in NOAA climate-focused grants, which fund satellite-based climate research, would be eliminated.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would also face significant cuts under Trump’s plan. The proposal suggests a 55% reduction in the EPA’s budget, effectively eliminating its environmental justice program and drastically reducing climate change research funding. The plan follows the EPA’s recent announcement that it is reviewing the 2009 Endangerment Finding, a key legal ruling that classifies greenhouse gases like CO2 as pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
If the EPA rescinds this finding, it could remove the legal foundation for emissions regulations on power plants, vehicles, and oil wells. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the review, stating that the agency would follow “science, the law, and common sense.” Energy Secretary Chris Wright described the Endangerment Finding as “an enormously negative” policy tool.
While the budget proposal is not yet law, it outlines a clear shift in priorities: cutting climate funding, increasing support for fossil fuels, and rolling back regulations that could reshape U.S. energy strategy for years to come.
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