FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
June 3, 2026
Contact: Levi Teitel, levi@progressmichigan.org
New Poll: Majority of Michiganders Oppose EGLE Cuts
House Republicans proposing cutting department’s budget in half
MICHIGAN – Recent polling conducted by Progress Michigan in partnership with Public Policy Polling shows that 56 percent of Michiganders oppose the Michigan House Republicans’ budget proposal that would cut the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s (EGLE) budget by half, while 31 percent support this move. Additionally, 57 percent of survey respondents identifying as Independents oppose this budget provision.
“This spring, communities across the state have dealt with devastating flooding and dam breaches, leaving catastrophic damage to people’s homes and millions of dollars in cleanup costs,” said Justin Mendoza, executive director of Progress Michigan. “But House Republicans want to hamstring our state’s ability to handle flooding and modernize our dams by slashing EGLE’s budget by half. That’s not fiscal responsibility – it’s preventing our communities from being safe from environmental disasters. Come hell or high water, state House Republicans are working against the interests of Michiganders, and cutting EGLE’s budget in half is just the latest proof point.”
Progress Michigan recently caught up with Rep. John Roth (R – Interlochen) outside of Mackinac Policy Conference last week where he acknowledged that EGLE’s departmental budget needs more funding compared to what House Republicans passed.
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