Following in the footsteps of other federal science agencies under President Donald Trump’s administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week ordered its staff to start canceling grants already awarded to universities and research institutes, according to an agency source and an email seen by Science. Although EPA is not a large funder of R&D compared with other federal agencies, it does provide $35 million to $40 million each year to researchers studying the impacts of pollution and ways to reduce them. The internal email, sent between senior agency administrators, gave no reason for scrapping the grants, but the Trump administration has also been downsizing EPA activities in other ways. Since Trump took office, EPA has scrapped $1.5 billion in grants for environmental justice and frozen $20 billion in funding for clean energy and efficiency programs.

Other EPA news:

• Utah News Dispatch: Environmentalists warn: Changing ‘waters of the U.S.’ definition could damage Great Salt Lake
• E&E News by Politico: Trump EPA issues first layoff notices
• The New York Times: E.P.A. set to cancel grants aimed at protecting children from toxic chemicals
• Inside Climate News: EPA administrator defends sweeping grant terminations amid legal blowback
• E&E News by Politico: Zeldin a ‘no’ on targeting climate groups’ tax-exempt status
• The Conversation: Blog: Stripping federal protection for clean water harms just about everyone, especially already vulnerable communities