The Peconic Estuary Partnership, which was to receive $2.7 million in federal funding toward projects that include a $200,000 stormwater mitigation effort in Sag Harbor and $100,000 of wetlands work in Southampton, is now unsure if that funding will be available following an executive order by the Trump administration that froze billions in federal grants.
The bipartisan Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021 granted the National Estuary Program, of which the Peconic Estuary Partnership is a part, a total of $132 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The partnership laid out its concerns in a letter that the East Hampton Town Trustees’ deputy clerk John Aldred shared with his fellow trustees on Monday.
In January, President Trump froze funding for a list of organizations including the National Estuary Program. Since then, a judge has blocked the freeze, and the E.P.A. provided the partnership with a copy of that order. Aside from that, the E.P.A. has “no information at this time,” the email from the estuary partnership reads.
As it stands, “it is as yet unclear” if the money is available. However, the partnership can access its normal funds, and Stony Brook University has advised it to operate normally for the time being.
The estuary partnership’s stormwater mitigation project in Sag Harbor and its wetland work in Southampton are both pending and are in the “contract” phase of development.
Per the 2021 infrastructure act, only Congress has “the authority to take the funding away with amending legislation,” the partnership wrote. However, “we have yet to receive $1.8 million under this appropriation and are fearful that this will be rescinded.” The same is true for its annual $850,000, which is allocated from a congressionally approved budget.
The partnership has asked East End mayors and supervisors, along with members of Congress from New York, for letters of support. As it stood during Monday’s meeting, the partnership was not asking for support from the trustees.
“This is one of those things where it’s easy to react to something where you truthfully don’t even know what you are reacting to,” said Jim Grimes, the trustees’ other deputy. Sending a letter is “premature” since “we really don’t know what we’re sending letters to.” In the future, he stipulated, there could be a point for the trustees to “engage” around.
After clarifying that the partnership is not currently asking for a letter of support, the trustees discussed the legal and business implications of a potential funding freeze.
“In my view, the entire rule of law is under threat in this circumstance,” said Trustee Celia Josephson while discussing the legal questions surrounding the funding freeze. With that, she was in favor of writing a letter of support if the Peconic Estuary Partnership eventually asks for one.
The board, though, should be “prepared” for a situation in which the judge’s orders are “promptly ignored” by the administration, Ms. Josephson said. “If there are no consequences, it’s a very severe situation. I’m just flagging that because it’s entirely possible that these funds will never be released, and we have to be prepared for that.”
Patrice Dalton said the Trump administration appears to be conducting a “portfolio review,” adding that the president seems to be “trying to figure out what different packages of work exist and who is responsible to deliver on them.”
“I’m just saying that it’s entirely possible that, even if they make a wonderful presentation/justification for what they’re doing, the role of Congress having appropriated these funds may be usurped,” Ms. Josephson said.
Ms. Dalton said that she thinks the “president is most focused on the business part of it and knowing what is being done.” Accordingly, it would be “extremely helpful” for the Peconic Estuary Partnership to say, “This is what we do.”
Aside from money it receives from the federal government, each of the East End towns gives the partnership an allotment that it can use as it sees fit. As for the federal money, Bill Taylor, another trustee, wondered whether it is supposed to be routed to “specific” programs. Several other trustees asserted that that is “not necessarily” the case.
“I’m watching it,” Ms. Dalton said toward the end of the discussion. “I think that’s all you can do right now.”
Mr. Taylor suggested revisiting the topic again in two weeks, when the partnership might have a clearer understanding of how its funding will be impacted by executive action.
Mr. Grimes concurred. “Let’s see where this is headed.”
