EPA cuts debated in Minnesota

The proposed federal budget submitted this week by President Trump would eliminate many federal agencies and substantially cut the budgets of others.

One big target is the Environmental Protection Agency, which would face a funding cut of $2.4 billion which is 31 percent of the agency's annual budget.

Some of the proposed cuts include programs that fund cleaning up the Great Lakes, reducing carbon emissions from power plants and promoting energy efficiency.

MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with two people with very different perspectives on the issue. Kathryn Hoffman is the executive director of Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. And Peter Nelson is a senior policy fellow with the Center of the American Experiment, a Twin Cities-based conservative think tank.

Click on the audio player above to hear their conversation.