EPA Staff Cuts and Tool Shutdown: Billionaire Revenge or Necessary Reform?
In his first two weeks, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin initiated significant personnel changes, including notifying approximately 1,100 probationary employees of potential termination and placing 168 environmental justice staffers on leave. Simultaneously, the agency removed its EJScreen mapping tool and implemented a controversial streamlining initiative. Zeldin’s stated priorities emphasize AI, automotive jobs, and energy independence, diverging from traditional EPA focuses and causing widespread concern among staff. These actions, coupled with the removal of staff pronouns from email signatures, have created a climate of fear and uncertainty within the agency.
John Q. Hosedrinker