President Trump’s Budget Eliminates Investments in Great Lakes, Tells Governor Walker to Provide Funding
Senator Baldwin to Governor Walker: “What is your plan to provide the funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative that President Trump’s budget would eliminate?”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today wrote to Governor Scott Walker about President Trump’s proposed budget and plan to eliminate federal investments for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and instead rely the State of Wisconsin and local governments to provide this critical funding.
“Last year, you wrote to President Trump expressing your view that the role of the federal government should be reduced and states should have more power and control over programs and policies. President Trump’s budget request would do just that with the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, transferring the responsibility to fund this vital investment to you and local governments. Wisconsin has received millions in federal investments from this federal program and local governments simply do not have the resources to replace this funding. I am writing to ask: What is your plan to provide the funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative that President Trump’s budget would eliminate?”
The GLRI is a critical program for the Great Lakes region, the health of our communities and the protection of our clean water resources. It has invested $331 million for 416 projects in Wisconsin. It has helped the state combat the growth of invasive species like Asian carp and zebra mussels, which pose a major threat to the ecology and economy of the Great Lakes by devastating the food chain and causing major damage to our ports, pipes and water infrastructure. It has also helped our state clean up polluted sites and restore water quality in Wisconsin.
The GLRI investment is expected to produce nearly $12 billion in benefits from tourism fishing, and recreation basin-wide.
Last week, as a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, Senator Baldwin sent a bipartisan letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt expressing concern about reports that the Trump Administration’s budget request would include drastic cuts to Great Lakes funding.
Senator Baldwin has championed the GLRI and protecting our Great Lakes throughout her time in the Senate. Last year, Senator Baldwin successfully fought to reauthorize the GLRI for five more years in bipartisan legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama.
An online version of the letter to Governor Walker is available here.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Baldwin, Wied Kick Off Packers Season With Push to Ensure All Wisconsinites Can Watch Packers Games
Sep 4th, 2025 by U.S. Sen. Tammy BaldwinBaldwin’s bipartisan Go Pack Go Act would ensure Wisconsinites in remaining 13 Wisconsin counties would always have access to the Green and Gold
Baldwin Wraps Up “fighting for Wisconsin Families” Tour After Nearly 45 Stops
Aug 29th, 2025 by U.S. Sen. Tammy BaldwinIn month-long tour, Baldwin highlights work to lower costs as Republicans gut Medicaid and nutrition assistance and Donald Trump’s trade war drags on
Baldwin Calls Out Trump Firing Independent Railroad Regulator as Favor to Railroad Owners and Wall Street
Aug 28th, 2025 by U.S. Sen. Tammy BaldwinTrump fired Surface Transportation Board Member Robert Primus as Board weighs merger of two of the biggest railroad companies
