More than 1000 Businesses, Organizations, and Individuals Call on the Trump Administration and Congress to Support Coastal Zone Management
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Press Release
Coastal States Organization
June 17, 2025
State and Territory Coastal Zone Management Programs (CZMPs) are statutorily authorized under the Coastal Zone Management Act to “preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, restore or enhance, the resources of the Nation’s coastal zone for this and succeeding generations”[1]. To accomplish this, CZMPs receive federal funding matched by state dollars. However, the Trump administration is currently proposing to eliminate federal funding for CZMPs, jeopardizing the states’ role in managing coastal resources. In response, more than a thousand small businesses, organizations, local government officials, and coastal community members across the nation are calling on Congress and the administration to fund and support these critical programs.
For the past fifty years, CZMPs have balanced competing uses of the coastal zone, including economic development, coastal resource use, and conservation, as well protecting coastal communities from the unique natural hazards they face. Through these efforts our nation’s coasts remain economic drivers, destinations for tourism and recreation, and thriving natural ecosystems.
Over 129 million residents—40% of the population of the United States—live in coastal counties. These counties produce more than $10 trillion in goods and services annually and employ 54.6 million people. Working waterfronts – including fishing, port and shipping infrastructure – are vital to the U.S. economy and often deeply woven into the cultural fabric of communities. Beaches, corals and wetlands draw in tourists, supporting a recreational economy that contributes approximately $143 billion in GDP to the national economy annually.
Despite these benefits, CZMPs are facing significant cuts from the federal government. A leaked copy of the NOAA proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 shows that the administration will eliminate all funding for Coastal Management Grants. While these federal funds ($81.5 million in FY 2024) are matched dollar-for-dollar by state governments, a significant cut or complete loss of federal funding would be devastating for state programs, forcing many to scale back or terminate projects, cut funding to local partners, and forego efforts to increase community resilience to coastal hazards, such as flooding, erosion and extreme weather events.
More than a thousand Americans from 34 coastal states and territories who recognize the value of coastal zone management programs have come together to call on the Trump administration and Congress to:
The signers of the statement include:
“Coastal Zone Management Programs protect coastal and marine resources and habitat, support public access and recreation, enable sustainable economic growth, protect working waterfronts, and build resilience to environmental threats facing our communities,” said Derek Brockbank, Executive Director of Coastal States Organization. “Local businesses and local governments know the value of their state coastal program; now we need to Congress to recognize that value and continue funding these critical programs.”
Signed statement available HERE.
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About Coastal States Organization
For over 50 years, Coastal States Organization (CSO) has served as the collective voice for the nation’s coastal states, commonwealths, and territories on federal legislative, administrative, and policy issues relating to coastal, Great Lakes, and ocean management.
Media Contact: Rebecca Dennis, Director of Federal Affairs
313-806-5281
[1] Coastal Zone Management Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1452. Congressional declaration of policy (Section 303)
