EPA has pushed out several employees who publicly denounced the Trump administration’s deregulatory actions and treatment of the agency.
Some EPA staffers on Friday received notices of termination or proposed removal from the agency, according to records seen by POLITICO’s E&E News. They were already on administrative leave over signing an open dissent letter criticizing the administration’s policies on climate change and science as well as suppressing opposition within EPA.
The employees saw the firings as another move by President Donald Trump’s appointees to squelch any disagreement in carrying out his agenda.
“We don’t think that EPA has any valid reason to fire anyone,” said Nicole Cantello, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 704, which represents EPA Region 5 employees. “This is a blatant attempt to silence the voices of those EPA employees who spoke out to protect the American people.”
