1 of 1
Story summary
- President Donald Trump shut down the U.S. embassy air-quality monitoring program in March 2025.
- Researcher Zoe Yiyuan Zhou analyzed satellite data from 46 cities to compare pre- and post-shutdown pollution.
- Three to four months later, average pollution rose roughly 30%, a 4% increase in PM2.5 levels.
- Cities lacking alternative monitors experienced larger pollution increases after the program ended.
- Economist Andrea La Nauze warned the termination threatens ongoing air-quality gains and accountability.