Trump administration moves to shut down EPA science office
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will dismantle its Office of Research and Development and begin large-scale layoffs of scientists, part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce.
Lisa Friedman and Maxine Joselow report for The New York Times.
In short:
- The EPA confirmed it will eliminate its research office, a division central to assessing health and environmental risks, after months of denials and following a green light from the U.S. Supreme Court to proceed with deep cuts to federal agencies.
- The office, which once employed over 1,100 scientists, has already seen more than 325 staff depart, with further layoffs expected though not yet initiated formally.
- Critics say the move weakens science-based policy, while supporters, including industry groups, argue it reduces bureaucracy and increases efficiency.
Key quote:
The science office “is the heart and brain of the E.P.A. Without it, we don’t have the means to assess impacts upon human health and the environment. Its destruction will devastate public health in our country.”
— Justin Chen, president of A.F.G.E. Council 238
Why this matters:
Independent research from the EPA’s science office has guided public policy on drinking water safety, air quality, and chemical exposure for decades. By shutting it down, the government significantly limits its ability to respond to environmental health risks, such as wildfire smoke, fracking-related pollution, and toxic chemical exposure. The move will delay and weaken action on a wide range of human health threats, including cancer-linked substances and endocrine disruptors in the environment.
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