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Air pollution spiked after the Trump administration stopped embassy monitoring

Sep 15, 2026 · Jonathan Lambert

Originally published by NPR News Read the original

Air pollution spiked after the Trump administration stopped embassy monitoring
Smog mixed with a thick layer of clouds covers the Metro Manila skyline in the Philippines, on August 27, 2026.
Smog mixed with a thick layer of clouds covers the Metro Manila skyline in the Philippines, on August 27, 2026.

In 2025, the Trump administration ended a long-running program to collecting air pollution data at U.S. embassies. A new study suggests that led to a 24-33% increase in local pollution levels.

(Image credit: Photo by Melvin James Urubio/NurPhoto)

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