(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — “A functional and prosperous society needs a healthy workforce, and for 30 years, EPA’s offices of environmental justice helped millions of Americans live healthier lives by protecting the families, communities and workers most exposed to harmful pollution and extreme weather events.

“Eliminating these offices helps no one, and it means EPA will no longer be able to successfully fulfill its mission of protecting the health of every American and the environment. These offices benefit everyone, and leaders across party lines know this. Just last year, House Speaker Mike Johnson urged EPA to award environmental justice funding to support the health of Louisiana communities.

“We cannot and will not lose the decades of progress made to ensure our children and their children have a safer, healthier future. Leaving extreme pollution unchecked means higher healthcare costs, kids suffering from asthma attacks on the playground and higher risks of cancer and respiratory illness for families across the country. The Trump administration’s dangerous strategy to destroy the institutions making us healthier and our air and water cleaner is on full display.

“This decision confirms that President Trump’s agenda is working for corporate polluters, not American families. This administration is turning its back on people closest to the sources of pollution – the people we should stand behind as we work toward a healthier future.”

With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org