‘A ray of light in the darkness’: Climate Hope advocates celebrate limited cuts for EPA

In recent months, a new group formed in East Lansing, Michigan, to become one of several Climate Hope Affiliate chapters spread across the country. Their very first action was a meeting with the staff of their Republican Representative, Tom Barrett, to advocate protecting federal funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

President Trump had proposed budget cuts of 55% to the EPA for Fiscal Year 2026.

“The district director listened intently and told us he expected the final appropriation for the EPA would be somewhere between five and 23 percent,” recalled Jim Detjen, Mid-Michigan Climate Hope chapter leader, about their November 2025 meeting. “So, we were pleased – and very surprised – when the cut to the EPA budget was only 3.5 percent!”

‘Hope’ was a hard sell

Knowing that a top priority of the Trump administration had been to defund and dismantle the EPA, as the new Climate Hope Affiliates network began to launch in 2025, protecting the EPA became an early focus.

“I can’t say it was a time of rousing inspiration for such an endeavor, as we pitched our program amid seas of despair and anger engendered by the current administration and Congress,” reflected the Rev. Brooks Berndt, UCC Environmental Justice minister. “We called ourselves Climate Hope Affiliates, and the ‘hope’ part was a hard sell.”

Yet now, the efforts of about a dozen Climate Hope chapters spanning from California to Georgia have paid off. They spent months flooding their representatives’ offices with postcards, calls, and meetings to offer messages about how their faith and values lead them to care about EPA funding.

In January, Congress ultimately passed a bill with just a 3.5% funding cut for the EPA.

“The signing of the bipartisan appropriations bill that effectively preserved the Environmental Protection Agency was a telling blow against the Administration’s scorched-earth agenda,” said the Rev. Rob Grabill, Climate Hope chapter co-leader in Concord, New Hampshire. “Even more importantly, Climate Hope Affiliate members report feeling hope and empowerment, and are ready for the next rounds of advocacy, even while new chapters are arising across the country.”

‘The work strengthens our faith’

Climate Hope Affiliates are a continually growing network of local chapters across the country who work in their communities to address the interconnected crises of climate change and societal injustice. They are organized and resourced through joint leadership of the United Church of Christ and Creation Justice Ministries.

“This work continues to strengthen our faith and give us hope that we are truly making a difference,” said Zena Martin, chair of the Atlanta, Georgia chapter.

The passed EPA budget preserves funding for things like state and Tribal assistance grants, water infrastructure and clean-up programs, state grant programs for air quality and pollution management, and research efforts promoting clean air and water, and healthy and sustainable communities.

Berndt highlighted the importance of groups and individuals like these taking “seemingly preposterous leaps of faith to make the improbable probable.”

“This has energized our team and shows the power of the Climate Hope approach,” Detjen said. “During a challenging time, Climate Hope provides a ray of light in the darkness.”

Groups or individuals interested in joining a Climate Hope chapter in their communities can contact Berndt by email.

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