Background
Since January 2025 the Trump administration has implemented a sweeping rollback of federal environmental justice efforts, dismantling numerous environmental justice working groups and offices, freezing or cancelling billions of dollars of funding, and eliminating critical public resources. Federal environmental justice efforts have played an important role in providing communities with the necessary resources to help them manage and identify environmental risks, and support informed decision making at the local level.
A number of federal working groups and offices focused on environmental justice have been shuttered. Most notably, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights has been almost entirely eliminated. The Office was created in 1992 under the Bush administration and has received bipartisan support for over 30 years.
So far, billions of dollars of federal funding to support environmental justice initiatives have been frozen or cancelled, and the Environmental Protection Agency is exploring the possibility of clawing back an additional $20 billion of previously awarded funding.
EJScreen, a detailed environmental justice screening and mapping tool, was designed to help scientists, regulators, advocates, and community members pinpoint and compare pollution levels across different communities based on environmental and demographic indicators. Originally created with the goal of informing decision makers and promoting transparency by making data publicly accessible, EJScreen has been removed from the Environmental Protection Agency’s website.
Federal environmental justice programs are vital for rural and under-resourced communities that may otherwise lack the capacity to conduct their own environmental assessments or navigate complex regulatory systems. By providing data and guidance, federal environmental justice initiatives strengthen local decision-making and ensure that all communities can protect their own health and that environmental protections are shared more fairly across all communities.
Importance to Utah
Across Utah, many areas have been identified through the EJScreen tool as Justice40, low-income, or energy communities, making them eligible for additional federal funding and support through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These include rural areas that could be eligible to receive funding to address critical issues such as access to clean drinking water, home electrification, and job training.
The Impact on Utah
On the Wasatch Front, all 13 census areas within Salt Lake City’s westside were designated as IRA Disadvantaged Communities due to both economic hardship—ranking in the 70th to 95th percentile for low-income populations—and climate vulnerability, with projected population loss from environmental hazards placing them above the 95th percentile. These communities could be eligible for funding to support low-income home weatherization and indoor air quality improvement, establish heat resilience hubs, and improve public and active transportation options through the IRA, measures that would not only save lives and improve health, but improve quality of living and economic opportunities for communities.
The EPA has since frozen billions of dollars of funding for environmental justice grants, leaving the fate of federal funding for vulnerable communities uncertain.
Ask Congress to Restore Federal Environmental Justice Programs
We believe that everyone, regardless of zip code, income, or race deserves a healthy environment. Ask your Congressional representatives to restore federal environmental justice programs, such as the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights and the EJScreen tool.
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