A program credited with provoking China, and prompting other countries, to clean up air quality is suspended due to DOGE cuts to federal bloat.

By Probe International

After more than a decade of providing access to public health data, on March 4 the U.S. State Department paused its air quality monitoring programs at embassies and consulates around the world due to funding cuts as a result of the Department of Government Efficiency mandate to shrink the federal budget.

The monitoring project found its footing in 2008 when a device was installed on the rooftop of the U.S. embassy in Beijing to track the city’s PM2.5 pollution (an air pollutant associated with premature mortality and heart attacks and a particularly concerning issue impacting Beijing at the time). Publishing data readings hourly on Twitter, the embassy defied protests and demands from the Chinese government to stop doing so as the embassy’s data often contradicted readings provided by the local government. In the lead-up to the Olympic Games that same year in Beijing, the embarrassment triggered by conflicting data prompted authorities to improve air quality in the capital.

“I’ve never seen an initiative of the U.S. government have such an immediate, dramatic impact in a country,” Gary Locke, a former U.S. ambassador to China, told the Washington Post back in 2013.

The success of the pilot program in Beijing evolved into a broader initiative known as DOSAir, expanding to more than 80 embassies and consulates worldwide, including Brazil, Colombia, India and Peru. Studies show the program helped to improve environmental conditions in host countries, and is credited by scientists and researchers as working to reduce pollution-related premature deaths, saving an estimated $465 million in medical costs per median city annually, according to a 2022 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [See: U.S. Air-Quality Tweets Led to Global Health Benefits].

In China, the program’s termination has sparked a mix of gratitude, concern, and skepticism from the country’s online community. A range of comments collected by China Digital Times from Sina Weibo appears below:

Oh, the outstanding 5253: Now we have to declare war on the earth’s environment [sad].

Fangfei7989: They are busy worrying about whether they are on the layoff list.

Fengyintingzhu: This move by the Trump administration may cause controversy. Stopping the release of air quality data may affect the public’s understanding of environmental conditions. Opening historical data until the end of the month is also a kind of explanation.

Winter Mountain Man: Let us know about PM2.5

See what Xiao V said: Good stop! Very correct! @Trump when will we give the Pacific a name?! Looking forward to it…

Sweet Coffee_Bitter Lotus: As a Chinese, I am really grateful for this project. The air quality monitoring by the US Embassy spread the concept of PMQ2.5 across the country. The poor air quality made people all over the country feel distressed. Then the relevant departments made up their minds to vigorously manage the situation, so that blue skies can be seen again in many places across the country.

Vet_Woo: I know their intentions are not pure, and I also know that the sun did not rise from the crowing of a rooster, but I still want to thank them.

Fengtian Jingnan Ji: Popularizing PM2.5 and promoting Swedish Blueair air purifiers are all conspiracies of the U.S. empire.

Xiaolanhai2023: We rely on wind to solve air pollution, don’t you know?

jnsmine: America is out of money.

Ya Chulike: Completed the historical mission.

Element_Atom_Source: It should be said that this project has benefited ordinary people. It has attached importance to environmental protection.

peanutkuma: I often check its real-time data on smoggy days, but I didn’t expect it to be cut off.

Tracking monitors at the various embassies and consulates impacted are remaining on-site and may become active again. Air data continues to be collected and alternative options to transmit the information are under evaluation, according to a U.S. State Department spokesperson.

From the Archives:

Unable to Clean Air Completely for Apec, China Resorts to Blocking Data