The Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts billions in Environmental Protection Agency funds, but Rep. Tom Cole, the top appropriator in the House, doesn’t want environmental research in his district to become collateral damage.
Cole, an Oklahoma Republican who has a reputation for working as a bipartisan negotiator, may think that the EPA’s budget is bloated, as he put it, but he’s focused on making sure resources for his district remain in place. He has said he successfully negotiated with DOGE and the administration to prevent cuts at a Social Security office, an Indian Health Services office and a National Weather Center office.
At a House Appropriations hearing last week, Cole pressed the EPA’s administrator, Lee Zeldin, over deep cuts that could affect the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center in Ada. The center researches groundwater and soil quality, and the administration plans to cut funding for research not required by Congress, reduce personnel and dissolve the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, the arm that oversees the facility.
“It’s a premier groundwater research facility, not just for the EPA, but arguably, in the United States,” Cole said. “That’s where about half of the country gets its water, is actually groundwater, it’s not surface water, so we don’t want to lose that capacity. And I just wanted to make sure [Zeldin] was aware of that.”
In the hearing Thursday, Cole asked Zeldin to discuss how the research from the center is used to meet congressionally passed requirements.
“Can you take a moment to discuss how the research carried on at Kerr actually would inform some of the EPA statutory functions and decisions that you have to make, as well as assist rural communities around the country?” Cole asked Zeldin.
Zeldin described the work done at the lab as important and said the investment should increase. He emphasized that a number of staff at the EPA are from Oklahoma and tribal communities.
“They have a strong and passionate fighter on their behalf in you, Chairman Cole,” Zeldin said of the lab. (The EPA referred NOTUS back to the exchange when asked to comment.)
As of Monday, Cole said he wasn’t actively negotiating with Zeldin about funds for the research center, but Cole wanted to make sure Zeldin was paying attention.
“We just kind of put a thought in his head, and we’ll see where we go,” Cole said. “We haven’t had a chance to visit or follow up about it since the meeting.”
Anna Kramer, a reporter at NOTUS, contributed to this report.
This story was produced as part of a partnership between NOTUS, a publication of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Allbritton Journalism Institute, and Oklahoma Watch.
MORE FROM EM LUETKEMEYER
Potential NOAA Cuts Are Already Giving One Oklahoma Lawmaker ‘Stomach Cramps’
The Office of Management and Budget is considering cuts to NOAA that would effectively eliminate its research arm and slash its budget by $1.3 billion.
May 13, 2025May 12, 2025
Tom Cole’s Bipartisan Reputation Gets Put to the Test in Trump’s Partisan Washington
If you ask lawmakers to describe Rep. Tom Cole and his more than 20 years of service in the House, Republicans and Democrats will both give him praise. Knowledgeable. A bipartisan negotiator. A friend. But for the last year as Appropriations chair, the Oklahoma Republican has overseen one of the most bitter and partisan processes lawmakers have ever gone through while exercising Congress’ power of the purse. And Democrats are concerned this upcoming appropriations cycle will somehow be more bitter and partisan than the last. Along with so many other norms, President Donald Trump has upended the practice of reaching…
May 9, 2025May 10, 2025
The Supreme Court Had Classroom Culture Wars on Top of Mind in Oral Arguments
Supreme Court justices and counsel brought up issues that paralleled conversations both parties are having in the political realm.
April 30, 2025April 30, 2025
Support our publication
Every day we strive to produce journalism that matters — stories that strengthen accountability and transparency, provide value and resonate with readers like you.
This work is essential to a better-informed community and a healthy democracy. But it isn’t possible without your support.
Republish This Story
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
