Uncertainty Looms Over Bay Area Climate Projects Under Trump: ‘We’re in Triage’

At least $60 million in federal funding for climate projects across the Bay Area is at risk, stalling efforts on wildfire prevention and other critical projects across the region amid the uncertainty, according to a new survey by Together Bay Area, which represents dozens of nonprofits, tribes and public agencies.

Some of the 28 respondents, which include water agencies, nonprofits, environmental consulting firms and public agencies, said the federal government froze their grants; many have no idea of their funding status because agency staffers aren’t communicating with them, and others are blindly billing for their projects with no assurance they will be reimbursed.

The funding limbo comes as the Trump administration has taken drastic steps to reshape the Environmental Protection Agency, cut or freeze hundreds of grants and deemphasize programs that promote climate awareness. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the cuts will eliminate “forced discrimination programs” and “serve every American with equal dignity and respect.”