MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers, in a letter to every member of Wisconsin's Congressional delegation, urged bipartisan opposition to President Donald Trump's proposed federal budget, calling on Congress to reject the president's reckless cuts to critical programs that keep Wisconsinites safe, keep local budgets stable, and sustain progress in every region of the state. This is the second letter Gov. Evers has sent to Wisconsin's Congressional delegation in recent weeks, this time highlighting how the president's proposed budget cuts would result in Wisconsinites being less protected from harmful chemicals in their drinking water, delay cleanup of contaminated sites, and leave Wisconsin less prepared for disasters like the recent 1,000-year flood event that caused tens of millions of dollars in damage to Wisconsin communities.
Among the cuts President Trump is proposing include gutting life-saving emergency preparedness funding for disaster-prone areas, hazard mapping, and coastal planning; shifting significant homeland security costs to state and local governments; slashing cybersecurity and infrastructure security agencies that help ensure safety and security across the country; cutting investments to clean up contamination and improve access to clean drinking water, including reducing Wisconsin's Safe Drinking Water revolving funds by 90 percent; and jeopardizing infrastructure modernization funding and road and highway safety investments, including grants that support law enforcement efforts against speeding and reckless driving.
"At a time when Wisconsin communities are still recovering from disastrous flooding and Wisconsinites continue to face economic headwinds as a result of President Trump's reckless trade policies, I write to highlight the very real consequences that the president's proposed FY2026 budget would have for families, local governments, and communities across our state," wrote Gov. Evers.
"As you are likely aware, the president's budget would cut FEMA's preparedness grants, reduce critical cybersecurity funding, slash many of EPA's core environmental grants, reduce the practical tools local governments use to keep folks and families safe and water clean, among much more. Simply put: President Trump's proposed federal budget cuts would result in Wisconsinites being less protected from harmful chemicals in their drinking water, delay cleanup of contaminated sites, and leave Wisconsin less prepared for disasters just like the one we recently endured, the impacts of which continue to weigh on everyday communities, families, and business owners across the state.
"On the chopping block are critical, effective, common-sense programs used every day by our state and local partners. Preserving these programs and investments is vital to preventing higher costs and slower service in communities across Wisconsin. As Congress considers funding decisions for the upcoming fiscal year, I urge you to stand up for Wisconsin families and communities in every corner of the state by protecting the programs they rely on."
The governor's letter comes as new estimates released by the Evers Administration last week show the president's signature budget reconciliation legislation, the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' which was supported and passed by Republicans in Congress, including every Republican member of Wisconsin's congressional delegation, will increase costs to Wisconsin taxpayers by over $284 million in future budgets-$142 million annually- while forcing over 270,000 Wisconsinites to lose their health insurance and tens of thousands of Wisconsinites to lose access to basic food necessities. The Evers Administration estimates that the new changes and red-tape requirements Republicans passed under the 'Big Beautiful Bill' will require the Republican-led Wisconsin State Legislature to approve nearly $70 million in new funding for immediate implementation costs for the remainder of this biennium alone.
Detailed in the governor's letter is a list of programmatic and fiscal impacts that, when compounded with the president's budget reconciliation bill, which will add hundreds of millions of dollars in increased costs to Wisconsin taxpayers in future budgets, will have devastating impacts on the safety, security, and resilience of Wisconsin communities, including:
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Terminating federal programming to fund disaster mitigation efforts;
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Cutting funding for federal preparedness grants and shifting cost burden to local communities;
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Slashing funding for cybersecurity;
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Shrinking clean water funds to a fraction of their current size;
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Eroding funding for hazard mapping and coastal planning;
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Cutting funding for contamination cleanup and redevelopment efforts;
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Eliminating state wildlife and forestry funding;
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Cutting funding for clean energy infrastructure; and
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Reducing grants to local law enforcement to support safety on state highways.
A copy of Gov. Evers' letter to members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation is available here. A transcription of the letter is also available below.
Dear Duly Elected Members of Congress:
At a time when Wisconsin communities are still recovering from disastrous flooding and Wisconsinites continue to face economic headwinds as a result of President Trump's reckless trade policies, I write to highlight the very real consequences that the president's proposed FY2026 budget would have for families, local governments, and communities across our state. As you are likely aware, the president's budget would cut FEMA's preparedness grants, reduce critical cybersecurity funding, slash many of EPA's core environmental grants, reduce the practical tools local governments use to keep folks and families safe and water clean, among much more. Simply put: President Trump's proposed federal budget cuts would result in Wisconsinites being less protected from harmful chemicals in their drinking water, delay cleanup of contaminated sites, and leave Wisconsin less prepared for disasters just like the one we recently endured, the impacts of which continue to weigh on everyday communities, families, and business owners across the state.
On the chopping block are critical, effective, common-sense programs used every day by our state and local partners. Preserving these programs and investments is vital to preventing higher costs and slower service in communities across Wisconsin. As Congress considers funding decisions for the upcoming fiscal year, I urge you to stand up for Wisconsin families and communities in every corner of the state by protecting the programs they rely on.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
This spring, the Trump Administration announced it was ending the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, even as President Trump's budget proposes deep cuts to other FEMA preparedness grants. Terminating the BRIC program removes an essential federal program that helps Wisconsin communities fund pre-disaster mitigation. The BRIC program often supports difficult-to-fund projects, such as constructing evacuation shelters and flood walls, safeguarding utility grids against wildfires, protecting wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, and fortifying bridges, roadways, and culverts. In Wisconsin, BRIC funds life-saving projects in disaster-prone areas, like community tornado safe rooms in Potosi School District and the Village of Cuba City that together can shelter thousands of residents from up to 250 mile per hour winds, or critical bridge improvements in the Town of Whitestown, so that when the Kickapoo River next floods, residents won't be stranded from emergency services. Recent flooding across Wisconsin underscores the importance of finishing mitigation projects before disaster hits, not after. Ending BRIC would stall critical mitigation work that counties and Tribes rely on to reduce flood and severe-storm damage, leaving communities more vulnerable to the next disaster. As Congress considers FY26 funding, I urge you to reject the Trump Administration's reckless cuts and ensure the BRIC program is restored and fully funded.
Preparedness Grants and New Match Requirements
Under the president's budget proposal, the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) would be cut by 25 percent and tied to a new 25 percent non-federal match. That combination would shift costs onto counties, Tribes, and municipalities and, in many cases, would force local governments to scale back training, exercises, planning, and equipment purchasesbecause they cannot raise the required match. Small and rural jurisdictionswill be hit hardest, since they rely on SHSP to participatein regional capabilities and to meet basic preparedness standards. This creates an uneven playing field, where communities with the least fiscal capacity lose access first.
While the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program (EMPG) is held level, flat funding does not offset the new burden created by the SHSP match. Counties that use EMPG to keep a single emergency manager on duty cannot divert those dollars to cover the match without hollowing out basic services. At a time when disasters are becoming more frequent and we continue to ask our emergency managers to do more, these proposed changes would result in less preparedness delivered statewide. I urge you to reject the president's dangerous proposal and support congressional language that sustains EMPG capacity statewide.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
The president's proposed budget slashes critical Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) funding by $491 million and narrows external support for state, local, Tribal, and territorial (SLTT) partners. For Wisconsin, that would mean fewer incident response surge teams, fewer vulnerability scans for small utilities and local governments, and less hands-on help hardening critical infrastructure. The budget also reduces access to FEMA's National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which provides emergency training nationally and allows for collaboration with universities on emerging cyber threats. These cuts would leave our communities with fewer assessments, slower response times, and without the continuity and security of critical infrastructure that protects Wisconsin from outside threats.
Clean Water Infrastructure
Across Wisconsin, families and businesses count on safe drinking water and reliable wastewater systems. The president's proposed budget would make that harder by shrinking the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) to a fraction of their current size. Wisconsin would see our Clean Water SRF allocation cut by more than 90 percent and the Drinking Water SRF reduced by a similar margin. Those reductions would strip away much of the state's project-delivery capacity, eliminatingfunding for dozens of positions at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) that move loans and upgrades from application to construction. These programs form the support backbone of safe drinking water and lawful wastewater treatment in every part of Wisconsin. If enacted, these cuts would dramatically narrow the financing available to municipalities, lengthen timelines for critical projects, risk missed compliance deadlines, and threaten the health of Wisconsin's valuable natural resources.
At the same time, the budget eliminatesEPA categorical grants within the State and Tribal Assistance Grants account that Wisconsin pools into its Performance Partnership Grant (PPG). That single cut would strip away more than $16 million that supports about 143 positions at WDNR across core delegated programs like groundwater and surface water protection, the Public Water System Supervision program, nonpointrunoff, and air quality. If those categorical grants are eliminated, the PPG would collapse, state primacy would be put at risk, and more day-to-day oversight would shift to EPA, leading to slower permits and more challenging problem-solving processes for local governments and utilities.
Within those categorical eliminations is Section 319 nonpointfunding that Wisconsin uses for watershed planning and targeted runoff projects. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) also dependson Section 319 pass-through funds to provide landowner technical assistanceand design best-management practices in priority watersheds. Losing those dollars, and the six positions tied to them, would stall phosphorus and sediment reduction efforts that keep lakes, rivers, and drinking water sources healthy. I urge you to reject these proposed cuts and maintainthe categorical grant funding that underpins Wisconsin's PPG and Section 319 work so Wisconsin communities can keep projects moving.
President Trump's proposed budget additionally eliminatesEPA's pesticide implementation and enforcement grants that support DATCP's certification, worker-protection, and enforcement capacity. Wisconsin would lose roughly $600,000- $650,000, funding for about six positions, and lab support, reducing the department's ability to administer and enforce standards even though state authorities would remain in place.
Hazard Mapping and Coastal Planning
Local governments rely on current flood maps and coastal layers to make everyday decisions such as where homes can be built safely, which roads to elevate, and how to qualify for mitigation grants. The president's budget would erode this critical resource by reducing FEMA's footprint and leaving state Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP/Risk MAP) awards uncertain. WDNR relies on about $1.1 million through this partnership to produce reliable, up-to-date flood-risk maps and provide community outreach that improves risk identification and protection. Losing this important funding would hamper WDNR's outreach and limit communities' ability to act on credible, multi-hazard data and resources.
The budget would also reduce NOAA's funding and operations, putting the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) program at risk. CZM provides about $470,000 and supports about seven positions that update coastal wetland layers used every day in permitting, land use, nutrient management, and habitat decisions. Without CZM, those layers would not be maintained, delaying permits and plan updates in coastal counties and slowing shoreline protection and restoration work. Both programs are part of the critical behind-the-scenes work that underpins the mapping and data local officials need to safeguard lives, property, and critical infrastructure.
Contamination Cleanup and Redevelopment
Communities cannot redevelop contaminated properties or protect drinking water sources without steady cleanup funding. Under the president's proposal, the Hazardous Substance Superfund would be cut by $254 million. In Wisconsin, site-specific agreements provide about $2.2 million annually to advance investigations and cleanup designs at legacy sites, including PFAS work. Such a drastic cut would slow fieldwork and push back remedy decisions, leaving properties in limbo and nearby residents with unresolved risks.
The budget would also eliminatethe EPA categorical grants that fund Wisconsin's Leaking Underground Storage Tank work. WDNR relies on about $2 million and roughly elevenpositions to oversee corrective actions and ensure safe cleanups near homes and small businesses. DATCP's underground storage tank program also relies on about $1.25 million to maintaincompliance data, handle complaints, and deliver statewide training, with one position directly at risk. Removing this support would prolong cleanup schedules and keep redevelopment plans on hold. Cutting Section 319 nonpointfunding at the same time would remove tools communities use to curb phosphorus and sediment runoff, making it harder to protect surface and groundwater as cleanups move forward.
Wildlife and Forestry Conservation Programs
President Trump's budget would eliminate both State Wildlife Grants and State, Private, and Tribal Forestry support. These programs keep Wisconsin's lands healthy, support outdoor recreation, and help local governments manage costs. State Wildlife Grants provided about $1.5 million in FY2024 and about ten positions for surveys, monitoring, and habitat restoration that protect Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Losing that capacity would slow conservation projects and weaken the outdoor recreation economy that many communities depend on.
The president's budget proposal would also end State, Private, and Tribal Forestry support. In FY2024, this program provided about $2.1 million and about six positions, along with pass-through funding to local partners and landowners for wildfire readiness, forest health, and urban and community forestry. Without these dollars, communities would see fewer projects move forward and more costs shift to state and local budgets during high-risk fire seasons and after severe storms. Both programs provide practical, on-the-ground capacity that communities cannot replace with one-time grants or volunteers. I'veraised my concerns about these cuts directly to USDA Secretary Rollins multiple times this summer, and I remain deeply concerned about these cuts.
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI)
Whether traveling to work, visiting friends and family, or exploring every corner of our state, our transportation infrastructure is essential to every Wisconsinite's quality of life. While the FY2026 THUD appropriations bill maintainsformula funding for most federal transportation programs at authorized levels, which is critical for Wisconsin's system, two provisions under consideration would harm the state.
The first concern is the proposed transfer of the final year of nationwide NEVI formula funding, which would include approximately $16.7 million of Wisconsin's total NEVI award of about $78 million for the continued buildout of public fast-charging. To date, Wisconsin has awarded funding to 53 projects in our initialNEVI funding round, eight of which are already in service with additionalsites coming online soon. Wisconsin also currently has a second NEVI solicitation open to fill gaps along the state's alternative fuel corridor, with at least 13 additionalprojects anticipatedin this round. Losing the FY2026 state share of the NEVI apportionment would prevent about 30-35 additionalcharging locations from moving forward, weakening Wisconsin's charging network. Last year, I signed historic legislation to enable Wisconsin to fully receive and administer our NEVI award, and the president's proposed cut will significantly hamper my administration's continuing efforts to build 21st-century transportation infrastructure for all Wisconsinites.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Supplemental Safety Funding
The second provision is the transfer of NHTSA supplemental funding. Wisconsin depends on these dollars each year to operatethe state's highway safety program. These funds support grants to local law enforcement for speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and seat belt enforcement. They also fund occupant-protection and car-seat education and installation, motorcycle safety training, and statewide transportation safety media campaigns. Transferring those funds out of these program areas would reduce on-the-ground safety efforts and affect local law enforcement, local governments, and residents and visitors across Wisconsin.
Wisconsin needs our federal partners in Washington to keep drinking water safe, advance environmental cleanup efforts, update hazard maps, harden critical systems, and continue to build reliable infrastructure. President Trump's FY26 budget proposal would do the opposite. As you consider funding for the next fiscal year, I urge you to reject these reckless proposed cuts to critical programs so we can keep Wisconsinites safe, keep local budgets stable, and sustain progress in every region of the state.
Yours in service,
Tony Evers
Governor
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