FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2024
CONTACT: Steven Fantes, Public Affairs Manager
617-817-1297 and epn-press@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org
Post-Election Voter Poll: Voters Overwhelmingly Support a Strong EPA to Protect Public Health
Voters Who Supported Trump Did Not Give Him a Mandate to Dismantle or Weaken EPA
The Environmental Protection Network (EPN) commissioned a post-election poll to better understand voters’ views on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and found overwhelming public support for the agency across all demographics, including Trump voters. The poll was conducted on the day Trump announced his pick of Lee Zeldin to run the agency, charging his nominee with rolling back 10-15 clean air and water standards as a top priority. Without knowing who Trump had named as EPA administrator, almost two-thirds of voters who supported Trump in the election expressed concern that his EPA pick would “put the interests of polluting corporations ahead of protecting clean water, clean air, and public health.”
“Donald Trump’s plans for EPA are a five-alarm emergency—with the health of millions of Americans hanging in the balance,” said Environmental Protection Network Executive Director Michelle Roos. “Trump tried to dismantle EPA in the past, and he is dead set on trying again to put polluter interests ahead of protecting clean air, water and land. If EPA is sidelined and polluters run amok, everyone should be concerned about the increased risks of cancer, asthma attacks, lung and heart disease.”
Research from our report, Breathing Easy: An Assessment of Public Health Benefits from EPA Air Pollution Standards (2021-24), shows that the regulations passed during the past four years will save over 200,000 lives through 2050, prevent over 100 million asthma attacks, and deliver over $250 billion in net benefits annually. Any attempts to roll back these rules will put millions of Americans at risk of poorer health from increased pollution.
“The fight to save EPA starts now,” continued Roos. “The good news is that the public is on EPA’s side because the agency protects the air we breathe and the water we drink. The polling shows that an overwhelming number of Trump voters want a strong EPA because they are more concerned than ever about toxic chemicals and air and water pollution.”
The poll results can be found [here]. The poll found that:
- There is overwhelming public support for EPA across all demographics, including Trump voters.
- 76% of Trump voters and 86% of all voters oppose attempts to weaken EPA.
- 81% of Trump voters and 88% of all voters want Congress to increase EPA funding or keep funding steady.
- 72% of Trump voters and 80% of all voters support increasing federal funding to communities disproportionately harmed by air and water pollution.
- Opposition to weakening EPA is notably high among voting blocks that shifted toward Republicans in the 2024 election, including young voters (91%), Latino voters (90%), suburban voters (87%), and independent voters (85%).
- Even Trump voters have concerns about who is confirmed as the new head of EPA.
- [Note: Trump announced his pick for EPA Administrator on Nov. 11, while this poll was in the field.]
- 64% of Trump voters and 88% of all voters are concerned that Trump will turn EPA over to someone who will “put the interests of polluting corporations ahead of protecting clean water, clean air, and public health.”
- A majority of Trump voters (54%) and 68% of all voters believe that the president should appoint someone to lead EPA who will “focus on implementing environmental protections” rather than “repealing regulations and cutting EPA’s staff and budgets.”
The Environmental Protection Network was founded by a bipartisan group of former EPA officials in 2017 to combat efforts to undermine science, roll back protective regulations, and spread misinformation about public health and the environment.
“Today, the Environmental Protection Network is even stronger and more prepared to combat misinformation, shine a light on attempts to put politics ahead of science and the law, and support the bipartisan legacy of protecting our health and welfare,” said Roos. “We all need an EPA that can protect public health and the environment without political interference. Our lives and the lives of our families literally depend on it.”
Methodology
Seven Letter Insight conducted the nationwide online and text-to-online survey commissioned by Environmental Protection Network and fielded between November 7-13, 2024. One thousand self-identified 2024 voters were surveyed, with a margin of error of +/-3.1% at the 95% confidence level. The survey was weighted to demographic exit polling data as well as 2024 ballot returns. The survey sample was 35% Republican, 32% Independent, and 31% Democrat, with 51% Trump voters and 48% Harris voters.
Seven Letter Insight is a bi-partisan public opinion and strategic research team, delivering tailored research programs that analyze complex audience segments, identify compelling outreach mediums, and deliver smart, research-based communication strategies.
Founded in 2017, the Environmental Protection Network harnesses the expertise of more than 650 former EPA career staff and confirmation-level appointees from Democratic and Republican administrations to provide the unique perspective of former scientists and regulators with decades of historical and subject matter knowledge.