Cowardly Cave To Trump Threats To Withhold Federal Funds
Capitulation Invites Across the Board Cuts In Federal Funds For NJ
In a case with huge implications for future federal funding of NJ’s climate and “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) programs, including “environmental justice” programs, the Murphy DEP voted to approve a Resolution that eliminated climate and DEI programs at the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) that are funded by the Trump US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
NJ Spotlight reports on that and more in a must read story, see:
The Trump “pressure” is far broader than just the Delaware watershed.
In April, the Trump USACE threatened to withhold federal funds for DRBC climate and DEI programs:
the Commission must not use federal funds awarded through the Corps to support policies or programs that advance the principles of “diversity, equity and inclusion” or the concept of “climate change”
The DRBC, virtually verbatim, caved to that threat and on June 11 quietly adopted a Resolution that says:
2. In recognition of policies of the current federal administration, from this point forward and for as long as these policies remain in effect, federal funds awarded hereafter to the Commission through the United States Army Corps of Engineers shall not be used directly or indirectly to support programs or policies that advance the principles of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” or the concept of “climate change.”
Profiles in cowardice. Denial of climate science.
Let that sink in: The Murphy DEP voted in FAVOR of climate denial and an illegal and racist Trump attack on DEI programs.
The DEP gets a lot of USACOE money, particularly at the shore. Did the USACE send there same letter to the DEP?
That capitulation invites the Trump “dismantling of the administrative state” to defund all federally funded climate, environmental justice and DEI programs in NJ – that could be hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake.
Trump EPA Administrator Zeldin has pledged to do that across the board – in addition to clawing back billions of dollars in DEI and climate and infrastructure grants.
Instead of capitulating to these illegal Trump threats, illegal Trump Executive Orders, and illegal Trump impoundments of Congressionally appropriated funding, the Murphy Administration should be suing Trump, not throwing climate and DEI programs under the bus.
Where is the Governor and the NJ State legislative oversight of this disaster?
Why aren’t they circling the wagons, woking with the NJ Congressional delegation, and holding public hearings on this attack? See another letter below:
———- Original Message ———-
From: Bill WOLFE <>
To: “Grogan, Susan [PINELANDS]” <Susan.Grogan@pinelands.nj.gov>, Mark Lohbauer <mlohbauer@jgscgroup.com>, “ben.spinelli@highlands.nj.gov” <ben.spinelli@highlands.nj.gov>, “shawn.latourette@dep.nj.gov” <shawn.latourette@dep.nj.gov>
Cc: senbsmith <SenBSmith@njleg.org>, sengreenstein <sengreenstein@njleg.org>, “senmckeon@njleg.org” <senmckeon@njleg.org>, “senzwicker@njleg.org” <senzwicker@njleg.org>, “senscutari@njleg.org” <senscutari@njleg.org>, “sitka@comcast.net” <sitka@comcast.net>, Julia Somers <julia@njhighlandscoalition.org>, Ruga Elliott <elliott@njhighlandscoalition.org>, domalley <domalley@environmentnewjersey.org>, Anjuli Ramos <anjuli.ramos@sierraclub.org>, “Taylor McFarland, NJ Sierra Club” <taylor.mcfarland@sierraclub.org>, “ed.potosnak@njlcv.org” <ed.potosnak@njlcv.org>, Ken Dolsky <kdolsky@optonline.net>, Matthew Smith <msmith@fwwatch.org>, “dpringle1988@gmail.com” <dpringle1988@gmail.com>, “agnesmarsala@gmail.com” <agnesmarsala@gmail.com>, “agoldsmith@cleanwater.org” <agoldsmith@cleanwater.org>, Margo Pellegrino <outriggerone@me.com>, “jonhurdle@gmail.com” <jonhurdle@gmail.com>, “ferencem@njspotlightnews.org” <ferencem@njspotlightnews.org>, “McAlpin, John” <McAlpinJ@njspotlight.com>, “warrenm@njspotlightnews.org” <warrenm@njspotlightnews.org>, “John Mooney, NJ Spotlight News” <njspotlightinfo@e.njspotlightnews.org>, “srodas@njadvancemedia.com” <srodas@njadvancemedia.com>, “david@njglobe.com” <david@njglobe.com>, Jeff Pillets <jeffpillets@icloud.com>, “wparry@ap.org” <wparry@ap.org>, “fkummer@inquirer.com” <fkummer@inquirer.com>, “kirkmoore@verizon.net” <kirkmoore@verizon.net>, “tim@littoralsociety.org” <tim@littoralsociety.org>, “zipf@cleanoceanaction.org” <zipf@cleanoceanaction.org>, Jason Howell <jason@pinelandsalliance.org>, Jaclyn Rhoads <jaclyn@pinelandsalliance.org>
Date: 06/23/2025 9:44 AM EDT
Subject: DRBC & Murphy DEP take a walk on DEI & Climate
Dear Pinelands Commission, Highlands Council, and DEP Commissioner LaTourette:
I was appalled to just now learn that on June 11 the DRBC voted to delete DEI and climate related work from USACoE funded projects and programs, as directed by illegal Executive Orders of Trump that mandate that all federal funds, programs, policies, and regulations “align” with his personal policies expressed in Executive Orders. (see the Resolution):
https://www.nj.gov/drbc/library/documents/ResForMinutes061125_FedFunds.pdf
Apparently, the NJ representative voted in favor of this Resolution.
Instead of quietly supporting the Trump’s irresponsible and illegal attacks on climate and DEI policies and programs via illegal impoundments of Congressionally appropriated funds, the NJ Attorney General should be suing the Trump Administration for this lawless behavior, as many other States are (including NJ in some limited cases).
The DEP is Governor Murphy’s representative on the DRBC. The Governor’s Office and DEP have proven quite adept at issuing press releases, particularly with respect to commitments to climate and environmental justice policies and programs. The Governor and DEP should be issuing press releases to inform the public about these abuses of authority and the grave impacts they will have on programs to protect human health and the environment, not staying silent and voting in support of them, while throwing the Delaware watershed under the Trump bus.
This kind of cowardly capitulation invites additional across the board federal funding impoundments, including federal funding from EPA, Agriculture, Interior, and Energy.
I urge the Pinelands Commission and the Highlands Council NOT to follow the cowardly and shameful retreat by the DRBC and DEP.
Please get out in front of this issue by adopting Resolutions that commit to climate and DEI programs now underway. And please accelerate and expand these limited programs.
Finally, I once again urge Legislative oversight AND PUBLIC hearings on the statewide impacts of Trump’s “dismantling of the administrative state” and ways to develop strategies to protect NJ’s interests.
Bill Wolfe