Trump’s 2026 Budget Proposal Targets Major Cuts to Clean Energy and DOE Programs
May 5, 2025
Former President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 federal budget outlines steep reductions to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) funding, slashing it by roughly $19.3 billion. A large portion of these cuts—around $15.2 billion—targets unspent funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), with the justification that they are tied to renewable energy and technologies considered inefficient or expensive by the administration. Officials claim the reductions wouldn’t affect existing, committed projects.
The budget also calls for a major decrease in funding for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), cutting it from $2.85 billion to $720 million. The administration wants to refocus this office on early-stage research, eliminating support for initiatives linked to climate change or the Biden administration’s environmental justice efforts, like Justice40.
Additional proposed reductions include $1.1 billion from the DOE’s Office of Science and $389 million from the Office of Environmental Management. However, funding for the National Nuclear Security Administration would increase by 25%.
Critics warn that these rollbacks could hinder U.S. progress in clean energy and climate science, while supporters argue the changes would reduce waste and reprioritize spending. Ultimately, Congress must approve the budget, and similar proposals in the past have faced bipartisan opposition.
