This column was written by Surfrider Foundation Water Quality Manager Mara Dias, who oversees the Blue Water Task Force and leads campaigns to promote clean water at the federal level. Dias has a background in marine biology and masters degree in environmental policy.

The news coming out of the Trump Administration has been hitting us at a fast and furious pace.

Every morning there are new reports of sudden and reckless actions taken by the President and the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency to dismantle the federal agencies Americans have long depended on (whether we know it or not) to protect our health, environment and keep our communities clean and safe.

Recent layoffs, mass firings, funding freezes and delays in grant approvals have all disrupted, and in some cases suspended, the way our federal government functions.

While the news is distressing, it also revealed most Americans might not be very familiar with the function and purpose of many of these federal agencies at all.

As a grassroots organization fighting for the protection and enjoyment of our oceans, waves and beaches, Surfrider Foundation relies on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, programs and regulations to protect clean water and keep polluters accountable.

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The agency’s mission, simply stated, is to protect human health and our environment. That means clean air, clean water and clean land for everyone.

EPA implements and enforces environmental laws passed by U.S. Congress, provides assistance to state and local governments to protect and restore natural resources and stimulates innovation and scientific advancements by supporting academic research.

Its programs and regulations help ensure the water that flows down to our beaches is clean and free from pollution, and beachgoers have the information they need to avoid getting sick at the coast.

Surfrider’s most significant collaboration with EPA is through the implementation of the Clean Water Act.

We often play a watchdog role to ensure federal and state agencies are enforcing pollution controls mandated by this bedrock environmental legislation to keep polluters accountable.

Surfrider also supports the important leadership role EPA took in recent years to advance environmental justice initiatives and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The foundation also is a staunch supporter of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health, or BEACH, Act.

Originally enacted in 2000, the legislation set national standards for protecting public health at the beach and established a federal grant program to help coastal states pay for their beach water quality monitoring programs.

Surfrider’s national network of staff and chapter volunteers has worked hard during the past decade to build bipartisan support in Congress to ensure sufficient funding for BEACH Act grants.

Without continued support, water testing programs in many states would completely shut down — making us all more vulnerable to getting sick from simply enjoying a day at the beach.

A significant loss in staff and subsequent budget cuts would cripple EPA’s ability to enforce the Clean Water Act and other critical environmental regulations.

Recent statements made by President Donald Trump indicated an imminent EPA personnel cut of a whopping 65%, which the agency then corrected to plans for a 65% budget cut.

Either way, a loss of staff and/or funding of that magnitude means less enforcement and more pollution and harm to natural resources and ecosystems.

Compounding this, new EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin proposed to remake EPA into an agency that caters to industrial development at the expense of public health and the environment instead of protecting clean air, water and land.

Zeldin’s proposed focus will be “energizing the greatness of the American economy” by “restoring American energy dominance,” making the United States the “artificial intelligence capital of the world” and “bringing back American auto jobs.”

That means bypassing key environmental reviews for energy projects, turning a blind eye to water, air and noise impacts from AI data centers and rolling back fuel economy standards that reduce air pollution.

Those moves would harm communities throughout the country.

Zeldin’s priorities also violate EPA’s core mission to protect public health and the environment.

Now more than ever, it is time for all of us to make sure our representatives in Washington know what is important to us.

Regardless of political party, no one voted for polluted air and water, and we all depend on EPA’s continued ability to enforce environmental safeguards to ensure our environment, economy and, most importantly, the health of our families are protected.

What can you do right now?

• MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Contact your lawmakers in Washingon and let them know clean water, public health and action on climate change are important to you. Remind them it’s their responsibility to ensure EPA is empowered — through adequate funding, staffing and authority — to meet its mission. You can also sign our Action Alert.
• GET INVOLVED. Attend your local Surfrider chapter meeting, if one is available. The foundation does have a Kaua’i chapter, where you can learn and work side-by-side with volunteers to ensure clean water and safe, accessible beaches.
• DONATE. The urgency of Surfrider’s work on the frontlines has never been more important. Opening up your wallet and becoming a member, renewing or even giving an additional donation helps fuel Surfrider’s network of volunteer coastal defenders with necessary resources. Everyone is encouraged to become a member or donate, if they can.

To learn more about Surfrider Foundation or get involved locally, check out the foundation’s Kaua‘i chapter.