President Biden’s $6.8 trillion budget seeks to add 2,400 new employees to the Environmental Protection Agency, an increase of more than 16% over its current staffing levels.

Mr. Biden wants to increase EPA funding by $1.9 billion over the amount approved by Congress last year. Overall, the EPA budget would be $12 billion.

“EPA is at the center of President Biden’s ambitious environmental agenda and the [budget] it will ensure the agency takes bold environmental action and economic benefits for all,” said Michael Regan, agency administrator.

Most of the new money would go toward hiring an additional 2,400 full-time employees at the agency. EPA currently has more than 14,800 employees across the country. The figure is significantly lower than the 17,000 employees employed at the start of the Obama administration.

White House officials say the EPA lacks the adequate staff needed to crack down on polluters. Biden blamed the staffing shortage on former President Donald Trump, who saw an exodus of more than 1,200 EPA employees during his four years in office.

“Staff reductions under the previous administration continue to undermine the Agency’s ability to carry out its mission to protect clean air and water, address the climate crisis, and advance environmental justice,” a House budget memo said. Blanca accompanying Biden’s budget.

Mr. Biden promised during the 2020 presidential race that climate change would be an “all-of-government” initiative for his administration. Since he took office, Mr. Biden has issued executive orders compelling government departments to reduce their fossil fuel footprint.

The president also got Congress to approve new funding for the EPA. The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill is set to increase EPA funding by $90 billion over the next decade.