washington president donald trump administration thursday propose 31 percent cut environmental protection agency budget white house seek eliminate climate change program trim initiatives protect air water quality epa would sustain big cut federal agency white house 2018 budget trump seek clear away regulations claim hobble u.s. oil drillers coal miners farmers propose cut start point congress could temper budget deliberations proposal would slash fund enforce regulations fight water pollution clean sit contaminate toxic waste promote energy-efficient appliances would eliminate 3,200 epa employees 19 percent agency workforce would effectively erase former president barack obama initiatives combat climate change cut fund agency signature clean power plan aim reduce carbon dioxide emissions consistent president america first energy plan budget reorient epa air program protect air breathe without unduly burden american economy summary propose epa budget say lawmakers trump republican party praise propose cut express concern cut program affect region country environmentalists blast plan say would return america back 1977 smoggy sky pollute rivers push lawmakers strengthen federal clean air clean water laws scott pruitt epa administrator dispute scientific consensus human action lead cause climate change former position attorney general oil-producing oklahoma sue epa dozen time pruitt believe congress determine whether carbon dioxide pollutant need regulation chamber currently lead republicans influential committees head lawmakers oil-producing state unlikely anytime soon budget would also eliminate 100 million spend research international program combat climate change trump also doubt science climate change say country reduce green regulations drastically without compromise air water quality ask climate change program mick mulvaney trump budget director tell reporters consider waste money think president fairly straightforward spend money say epa already face sharp cut obama janet mccabe former epa air official say trump propose budget would harm epa ability respond emergencies also hurt day-to-day efforts keep air water clean protect human health propose cut would cut 427 million aim regional pollution cleanup program include great lakes chesapeake bay fund superfund program clean nation contaminate sit would drop 330 million 762 million summary say budget seek give local state governments responsibility clean-up efforts many state municipalities also face severe budget constraints current fiscal environment trump proposal include 31 percent budget cut enforcement division fin company pollution would ax dozens program include popular energy star appliance efficiency program aim reduce u.s. energy consumption turn back clock 1977 make america great make america gag say conrad schneider advocacy director clean air task force one area would see small boost state revolve fund low-interest loan investments water sanitation infrastructure plan would add million fund bring budget 100 million employees epa headquarter washington worry job hop opportunities might open side country representatives california state energy commission clean air agency hire hand recruitment fliers epa employees way work fliers say fight climate change work california epa hit hard trump budget target regulations