The Trump administration has unveiled plans for a substantial reorganization of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Announced on Friday, the plan signals impending significant cuts in staffing, particularly targeting the agency's scientific research arm. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin indicated that the agency aims to reduce its workforce to levels reminiscent of the 1980s, during President Ronald Reagan's tenure. This shift could result in thousands of job losses, as the EPA currently employs approximately 15,000 individuals.
Historically, staffing at the EPA during the Reagan administration fluctuated between 11,000 and 14,000 employees. The current reorganization plan suggests a potential reduction in personnel to similar numbers. The EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), which plays a critical role in providing scientific analysis on air pollution, chemical risks, and environmental hazards, is set to undergo major changes. The agency plans to reallocate some scientific staff from ORD into existing policy-making offices responsible for writing regulations while establishing new offices for others.
In a recent meeting, EPA leadership informed ORD staff to brace for forthcoming cuts. Former EPA official Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta expressed concerns that this reorganization could jeopardize the agency's research capabilities and its ability to safeguard human health. "By splitting things up or eliminating that expertise, we put people at greater risk and we put this country at greater risk," Orme-Zavaleta stated. The ORD has historically been pivotal in delivering independent scientific assessments on environmental contaminants, contributing foundational research on critical issues such as lead in drinking water and air pollution.
Experts are alarmed that the anticipated staffing and budget changes could lead to significant reductions in research output. Zeldin has previously announced intentions to slash the EPA's overall budget by 65% in the coming years. In a budget proposal submitted to Congress this week, the Trump administration outlined a roughly 45% cut to the ORD's budget. According to Chris Frey, a dean of research at North Carolina State University and former ORD leader during the Biden administration, the scale of these cuts could critically undermine the entire research enterprise of the EPA.
In an op-ed published in Newsweek on Friday, Zeldin framed the reorganization efforts as a strategy to transform the EPA into a more efficient and effective agency. He projected that these proposed changes could save an estimated $300 million by 2026, equating to approximately a 3% reduction in the agency's 2024 budget, which exceeds $9 billion.
During the meeting on Friday, EPA leaders encouraged the 1,500 staff members of ORD to apply for roughly 500 new positions created under the reorganization plan. However, one EPA staff scientist, who requested anonymity due to fears of retribution, likened the situation to "musical chairs," where the drastic reduction of positions leaves many employees without a seat. This reorganization is merely the latest in a series of changes at the EPA, as Zeldin announced earlier this year plans to review and potentially roll back more than two dozen environmental rules and policies.
Earlier in the year, the agency also announced the closure of offices dedicated to environmental justice and initiatives for diversity, equity, and inclusion, alongside freezing millions in grant funding. In its recent statement, the agency reported a reduction in force affecting approximately 280 employees, while 175 staff members were transferred to other offices.
As the EPA navigates these significant changes, the implications for environmental research, public health, and regulatory frameworks remain a focal point of concern among experts and staff alike.
