Trump administration closes environmental offices, reshaping federal policy
The Trump administration is swiftly shutting down environmental initiatives, placing dozens of employees on leave and dismantling key offices within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department.
Maxine Joselow and Amudalat Ajasa report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- The EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, which addresses pollution in marginalized communities, is being closed, with 168 employees placed on leave.
- The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division has eliminated its environmental justice office and frozen pending litigation, raising concerns about the politicization of environmental enforcement.
- The administration’s moves align with broader efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion policies, with former officials warning the closures will lead to increased pollution in vulnerable communities.
Key quote:
“Shuttering the environmental justice office will mean more toxic contaminants, dangerous air and unsafe water in communities across the nation that have been most harmed by pollution in the past.”
— Matthew Tejada, former EPA environmental justice official
Why this matters:
Eliminating environmental justice programs could mean more exposure to toxic chemicals, worsening health disparities and loss of legal safeguards for communities already bearing the brunt of industrial pollution.
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