Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy has gathered many of the state's most powerful environmental leaders to rail against reports of deep cuts across the federal budget, especially to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Leahy, a Democrat, said Friday that the EPA will likely see about a quarter of its budget cut and 20 percent of its staff laid off if President Donald Trump's budget proposal passes. About half of Vermont's state budget comes from various federal sources.
State agencies and environmental groups lined up to detail how a diminished budget would affect them. Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore said one third of her department is federally funded. Much of that money goes to towns to help maintain safe drinking water.
President Trump is expected to detail his budget March 16.
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