1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

The Great Lakes are a vital source of freshwater for millions of people, ecosystems, and industries. Unfortunately, the Trump administration's draconian budget cuts and staffing reductions have severely undermined the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to monitor and protect this precious resource from threats like toxic algal blooms. Without sufficient funding and personnel, NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory lacks the capacity to collect and analyze crucial data, forecast harmful algal bloom events, and share this information with stakeholders who rely on it to safeguard public health and economic interests. This jeopardizes the drinking water supply for numerous communities and puts the entire Great Lakes ecosystem at risk. Immediate action is needed to restore funding and staffing levels to ensure NOAA can fulfill its federally mandated responsibility of safeguarding the Great Lakes from environmental hazards. The stakes are too high to allow this administration's reckless policies to compromise a resource that millions depend on for clean water and a healthy environment.