Brownfields 2025 State of the Union: A New Landscape of Environmental Policy

2025 has brought seismic changes to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields and Environmental Justice (EJ) programs. Significant policy shifts and agency restructuring under the new administration, communities, consultants, and local governments are now facing a dramatically altered landscape. As seasoned professionals in the field, we’re offering key insights to help developers navigate the current regulatory environment and stay ahead—by understanding the past that shaped it, the present we’re reshaping, and the uncertain path ahead.  

A Brief History of Brownfields and EJ at EPA 

The EPA’s Brownfields Program was established in the mid-1990s and evolved into a cornerstone of community revitalization. Through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Cleanup, and Revolving Loan Fund (MARC) grants, the EPA has helped transform contaminated, underused sites into assets for local economies.  

Parallel to this, the Environmental Justice Program emerged to empower historically marginalized communities burdened by pollution and disinvestment. Beginning in 1994, early EJ efforts included small grants for community education and collaborative problem-solving. By the late 2000s, these expanded to include government-to-government grants to institutionalize EJ principles in public agencies. 

Shifting Priorities: Changes in Brownfields and EJ Policy 

On January 20, 2025, the incoming administration issued executive orders pausing the disbursement of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funds. A subsequent memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) temporarily halted federal assistance. Although the courts later lifted the pause, these actions marked the beginning of a broader shift in federal policy direction. 

Within six months, the following major changes were underway: 

• EPA reorganization and workforce reductions 
• Dissolution of the Office of Research and Development  
• Termination of the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights  
• Elimination of over $2.7 billion in climate and EJ grants  
• Executive actions halting EJ grant programs and defunding diversity initiatives  
• A proposed 55% cut to the EPA budget in the FY2026 Presidential Budget request  
• Elimination of the EJ Screen Mapper and Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJEST) 

These shifts align with the administration’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” agenda, emphasizing deregulation, energy dominance, and permitting reform. 

Changes to EPA Environmental Justice Programs 

The restructuring of EPA’s Environmental Justice offices has unfolded rapidly: 

The implications are significant. Communities face not only the loss of essential funding but also the potential erosion of trust and relationships that have been built over many years. 

Looking Ahead: What to Expect in FY2026 and Beyond 

Final Thoughts: Adapt, Advocate, Act 

For communities, tribal governments, nonprofits, and consultants working in this space, the message is clear: act now and prepare for a leaner future. 

If your community has EJ priorities, whether it’s a legacy landfill, abandoned industrial corridor, or contaminated tribal land, this next round may be your last best chance to fund brownfield revitalization at historic levels. However, it will likely require adapting to using economic language to reach the same ends.   

We at Montrose Environmental Group are here to help you navigate the shifting landscape. With projects in all 10 EPA regions and clients from Alaska to Maine, we specialize in building and executing grant-winning programs precisely.  

Together, we can continue to push forward because even in uncertain times, revitalization is possible.