DC is known for its vibrant parks, lush tree canopy, and commitment to sustainability—qualities that make our city a healthier, happier, and more resilient place to live, work, and learn. Yet, the proposed FY26 DC budget threatens to undermine decades of progress by making dramatic cuts to the very programs that protect our environment, support public health, ensure green jobs, and build climate resilience. Our future is on the chopping block — Save DC’s trees, rivers, and environmental education programs NOW!
The Crisis at Hand
- DOEE’s Budget Cut by 24%: The DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) has faced the largest budget reduction of any city agency, while other agencies saw far smaller cuts or even increases. These cuts impact various programs that are essential for protecting our environment and promoting public health. Key programs affected include tree planting and maintenance, river and stream cleaning, air quality monitoring, climate change mitigation, and efforts to enhance our climate resilience.
- Environmental Education ELIMINATED: All local funding for the “Nature Near Schools” program and other related environmental literacy programs — collectively serving over 2,000 students and teachers in over 28 Title I schools — has been eliminated. These programs are among DC’s largest environmental education initiatives and among the few that address the city’s Environmental Literacy Plan and Chesapeake Bay Agreement commitments. Without them, we’d lose a rare opportunity for students, especially those in Title I schools, to experience meaningful environmental education in their city.
- Tree Fund at Risk: The Tree Fund, which supports the Riversmart Homes program, the DC State Tree Nursery, and the Income-Contingent Hazardous Tree Removal Program, is slated to become a “lapsing fund.” This means that fees collected for tree replacement may be diverted to the city’s general operating budget, potentially leaving replacement trees unplanted and our tree canopy in decline.
- Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Cuts: Funding for green infrastructure maintenance and water quality monitoring has been completely cut. Allowing green infrastructure to deteriorate, coupled with the elimination of all water quality monitoring, undermines the city’s decades-long investments in managing stormwater and ensuring progress toward safe and swimmable waterways.
- Lapsed Funding That Leaves Our Rivers and Water Sources Unprotected: DC’s FY26 proposed budget redirects all funds in the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Fund (also known as the “Bag Fund”) to DC’s general operating budget instead of watershed education, trash capture, river monitoring, stream restoration, and wildlife conservation programs. When these funds are taken and used elsewhere, our watershed is left vulnerable.
- Outdoor Learning in Jeopardy: Budget cuts will eliminate vital outdoor experiences and learning opportunities for students, including summer camps, field trips, local river tours, school tree-planting events, watershed education experiences, and park cleanups. Without funding, some students may never have the opportunity to experience the outdoors and learn from nature.
Why This Matters
Investments in our city’s tree canopy and green spaces are not just about beauty—they are about public health, community well-being, and climate resilience. Trees and green infrastructure help clean our air and water, reduce urban heat, and provide critical habitat for wildlife. And environmental education programs empower the next generation to become stewards of our planet.
For the fifth straight year, DC has been named the best city in the country for our parks—a legacy we must not abandon. The proposed cuts mean fewer trees and green spaces for DC and fewer students educated and inspired to protect what’s left – all at a time when our city is facing more extreme heat, flooding, and storm damage than ever before.
Take Action
Complete the form below to contact your Councilmember today and urge them to prioritize funding for our city’s trees, green spaces, and environmental education programs. Advocate to restore funding for DOEE and all critical environmental education and green infrastructure programs. Protecting our environment, clean air, and clean water is paramount. The investments we make today will pay dividends in public health, communities, and climate resilience for generations to come.
Without action now, we risk losing the progress we’ve made and leaving future generations with a less healthy, less resilient city. Let’s not leave our city’s future behind.