But standing in the way of the new EPA vision is a lack of resources, staff, and more support from across the government. For one, the Supreme Court is currently reviewing a case that could sharply limit the agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gasses that drive climate change. The Senate, meanwhile, has yet to confirm at least four people nominated for top agency roles. Congress also denied Biden’s request for $11.2 billion in discretionary funding for the EPA for fiscal year 2022, enacting a budget of about $9.6 billion instead.
Referring to the budget, Timothy Whitehouse, executive director of the environmental nonprofit Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, accused Congress of “basically conceding the Trump vision for the agency.”
“The EPA is still in crisis,” he said.
