EPA plans massive staff cuts, Trump announces
President Trump revealed that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin intends to slash the agency's workforce by 65%, a move that could severely impair its environmental oversight capabilities.
Lisa Friedman reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- During a cabinet meeting, Trump stated that Zeldin plans to reduce EPA staff by approximately 65%, prompting immediate internal memos about impending layoffs.
- An EPA official later stated that the president was referring to budget cuts, not direct personnel reductions, though specifics remain unclear.
- Union leaders and agency employees expressed shock, noting they were not informed prior to the announcement and warning of the detrimental impact on environmental protections.
Key quote:
"This is so much bigger than just 65 percent of the employees. What does it really mean? It means 65 percent less people available to respond to natural disasters, which are happening more frequently, not less. It would mean 65 percent less people to respond to hazardous cleanups, to do air monitoring and lead abatement.”
— Marie Owens Powell, president of the American Federation of Government Employees
Why this matters:
Reducing the EPA's workforce by such a significant margin could drastically hinder its ability to enforce environmental regulations, conduct essential research, and respond to public health emergencies, potentially leading to increased pollution and health risks nationwide.
Read more: America, this is what environmental justice is — and what we all stand to lose
