EPA employees are denouncing the Trump administration for undermining trust in the agency and dismissing its science on climate change and toxic chemicals.
More than 300 current and former EPA staffers signed an open letter to Administrator Lee Zeldin blasting regulatory rollbacks and the push to downsize the agency’s funding and staffing levels as well as aggressive rhetoric against Democratic lawmakers and the Biden administration.
“Today, we stand together in dissent against the current administration’s focus on harmful deregulation, mischaracterization of previous EPA actions, and disregard for scientific expertise,” the letter said.
The employees raise “five primary concerns,” including ignoring the scientific consensus on asbestos, mercury and greenhouse gases; taking apart the agency’s research office; and “promoting a culture of fear” with staff working on environmental justice and diversity programs and those on probationary status forced out.
