WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency faces challenges during a government shutdown. The agency’s mission to protect health and the environment is at risk without a federal budget. Former EPA officials express concerns that polluters may exploit the situation with an agency that has already seen massive staff cuts and dramatic shifts in policy. During the shutdown, the agency plans to halt non-criminal pollution inspections, new grants, and most scientific research. Essential staff will continue to work, but many functions will cease. That could lead to increased pollution risks and halted cleanup efforts, raising concerns about public health and safety.
By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press
Banner image: The Kyger Creek Power Plant, a coal-fired power plant, operates April 14, 2025, near Cheshire, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)
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