By: Chelsea Biggs, Chief of Staff, and Cate Caldwell, Sr. Policy Manager
The first Trump administration provided us with a blueprint for how a second Trump term might approach environmental policy. While we anticipated this president putting our nation’s environment to the test, no one could have predicted the recklessness and speed with which our environmental protections are being dismantled. Following a slew of funding cuts and federal employee layoffs, it quickly became clear that IEC needed to define a federal strategy for environmental advocacy. Thanks to the incredible leadership and support of the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), IEC has been able to step up to the plate to uplift Illinois’ and our stories.
Cutting Through Federal Chaos
IEC’s goal is to ensure every Illinois community—from Chicago to Springfield and everywhere in between—has the power to champion the environment. The breakneck pace at which the Trump administration is executing anti-environment federal actions means that we needed to direct more of our resources to our federal program work. We immediately determined we could help IEC members sift through the federal chaos. We’re working to build power around three pillars: what issues are most pressing, how can we mobilize to take action, and how to present a unified voice for our state. I began hosting weekly calls with our affiliate members to restart that dialogue.
How Are We Sifting Through Information We See in the News?
- In partnership with our affiliate member Prairie Rivers Network, we began tracking federal impacts to help our members understand where funding cuts hit, how much money is at risk, and more.
- We’ve brought in speakers who could provide concrete information and answer questions to the best of their ability in a rapidly changing environment. To date, we’ve hosted former Region 5 EPA Director Deb Shore, IEPA Director Jennings, AFGE Local 704 President (EPA workers union), Economic Development Director for Senator Duckworth, and Executive Director of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Eliot Clay.
How Do We Present a Unified Voice?
- IEC offered to host roundtable discussions with US representatives with the goal of lifting up the voices of our members, those who are in district for those members. We joined a roundtable with Congresswoman Budzinksi in her district and hosted a listening session with Congressman Casten for IEC members to discuss impacts and strategy moving forward.
- We created a small working group of partners to target Congressman LaHood, a member of the Ways and Means Committee. His district is home to the 3rd most Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) investments in Illinois. The hope is that we can get him to support an effort to protect IRA investments in the budget process. This has led to a partnership across TNC, NRDC, PRN, Faith in Place, and The Morton Arboretum. Together, we have coordinated a unified voice through multiple action alerts, sign-on letters, outreach for meetings, etc.
- The Trump administration’s funding cuts and tariffs have hit the Illinois farm community hard. Our farm advocacy partners immediately lost funding for the Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) Program, which supports the IL EATS program. Local farms and small businesses then lost funding for REAP, a program designed to support the transition to clean energy in rural communities. The benefits of this program included lower costs and energy independence in these communities. Our team has actively worked to ensure the stories of impacted farms are at the forefront of legislators’ minds.
- On March 11, IEC partnered with Illinois Stewardship Alliance and Agriculture Committee Chair Rep. Harper to host a hearing on the impacts of federal funding cuts to Illinois farmers. We heard from IDOA Director Jerry Costello, Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Executive Director Eliot Clay, IDNR Director Natalie Finnie, CMS, and U of I extension. Four Lees Farm’s Mitch Cave, Janie’s Mill’s Harold Wilkin, and Tulip Tree Gardens were a few of the eleven farms present to testify about the loss of contracts and the uncertainty it brings for their future.
Building IEC’s Power: Welcome Cate!
We are only a few months into this administration and anticipate that we will continue pivoting our approach as new challenges arise. One key component of our strategy is strengthening our federal engagement, and I’m proud to share that we’ve brought on board Sr. Policy Manager Cate Caldwell to lead these efforts.
Cate comes to IEC with years of experience, having worked extensively on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Most recently, Cate served as a trusted policy staffer on Senator Duckworth’s team, where she played an integral role in federal policy initiatives on energy, environment, environmental justice, and agriculture issues. Her deep understanding of the legislative process and established relationships with D.C. lawmakers will be crucial as we work to amplify our impact and lead federal policy efforts that are critical to our mission.
Cate’s leadership will also help bridge the gap between state and federal action, ensuring that our state-level goals align with national policies and that we are proactively engaging with lawmakers to drive meaningful change.
IEC in DC
In early April, IEC joined the League of Conservation Voters for a fly-in advocacy week in Washington, D.C., where IEC met with 9 US Representatives and their offices and both Illinois Senators. During the trip, we had incredible conversations with members and their staff about protecting existing climate investments that support economic growth, lower energy bills, and the farm community growth.
Member meetings:
- 🔵 Congresswoman Ramirez
- 🔵 Senator Duckworth
- 🔵 Congressman Casten
- 🔵 Congresswoman Budzinski
Staff meetings:
- 🔵 Senator Durbin
- 🔵 Congressman Krishnamoorthi
- 🔵 Congressman Quigley
- 🔴 Congressman LaHood
- 🔵 Congresswoman Kelly
- 🔵 Congresswoman Schakowsky
- 🔵 Congresswoman Underwood
VIDEO: We joined Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) to discuss what federal funding cuts mean for farmers and growers, and how we all can get involved in the fight to protect critical funding like climate-smart investments. You can follow LCV, Rep. Budzinski, and IEC on Instagram!
About the Authors
Chelsea Biggs, Chief of Staff
Chelsea joined the Illinois Environmental Council as Chief of Staff in Fall 2023. In this role, she leads the programs and legislative teams and oversees the affiliate engagement strategy. Chelsea supports the organization’s internal structures during this extraordinary period of growth, ensuring smooth staff function across departments and effective communication within the organization.
Cate Caldwell, Sr. Policy Manager
Cate Caldwell joined the Illinois Environmental Council as a Senior Policy Manager in March of 2025. Cate’s leadership ensures that Illinois’ environmental goals are harmonized with national policies, working closely with both the State Legislature and Congressional Delegation of Illinois.