Stewardship Undermined: Christians Raise Concern Over Trump Budget Cuts to Environmental Protections

As Christians, we are called to be caretakers of God’s creation. From the first pages of Scripture, we are charged with tending the garden and stewarding the earth—not exploiting it. That’s why many believers are sounding the alarm over President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal, which includes sweeping cuts to environmental protection and national park funding.

The proposed budget slashes more than $160 billion in federal spending, with deep reductions to agencies responsible for protecting air, water, and land. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would face a 55% cut, eliminating its environmental justice programs and reducing research that helps communities guard against pollution. The EPA’s scientific arm, which helps assess the impact of toxins and climate threats on public health, would be decimated.

But it’s not just regulatory agencies on the chopping block. The National Park Service would see its funding nearly halved, with over $1 billion in cuts—including $900 million from park operations. In states like Texas, home to 18 national park sites, this could mean fewer rangers, reduced safety for visitors, and long-term harm to some of our most treasured places like Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks.

These parks are more than vacation destinations. They are sanctuaries—places of Sabbath rest where families experience the beauty of God’s handiwork. Undermining them with budget cuts not only damages our natural heritage but contradicts the biblical call to be faithful stewards of the land.

Other cuts target the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which monitors extreme weather and climate patterns. Programs that help predict hurricanes, droughts, and floods—events that disproportionately affect the poor and vulnerable—are being dismantled. The Billion-Dollar Disasters Report, which helped track the economic toll of these events, has already been canceled.

Rural communities will also feel the strain, as the Department of Agriculture faces billions in cuts to conservation and sustainable farming programs. These efforts help protect soil, preserve water, and ensure the land can be fruitful for future generations.

Christian leaders and scientists alike are warning that these cuts will harm public health, weaken the nation’s ability to respond to environmental threats, and erode moral leadership. Now more than ever, it’s vital for people of faith to speak up. Our role as stewards means advocating for policies that protect creation—not dismantle it. As Psalm 24:1 reminds us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” It’s not ours to waste.