WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to disband its scientific research office, putting over 1,000 scientists and employees at risk of termination. These personnel play a crucial role in establishing the scientific groundwork for regulations that protect public health and ecosystems from environmental contaminants.
Documents reveal that up to 1,155 chemists, biologists, toxicologists, and other scientists—representing 75% of the research program’s workforce—could face layoffs, as reported by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Critics have condemned the planned layoffs, which the Trump administration claims are part of a larger initiative to streamline the federal government, describing the move as a significant threat to the EPA’s mission to safeguard public health and the environment.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has proposed cutting 65% of the agency’s budget, which would necessitate considerable staffing reductions in essential functions such as air and water quality monitoring and disaster response. Furthermore, new guidelines require that expenditures exceeding $50,000 receive approval from the Department of Government Efficiency.
The Office of Research and Development, the EPA’s primary scientific branch, currently employs 1,540 personnel, excluding special government workers. According to internal documents, a significant percentage of these positions—between 50% and 75%—are not expected to be retained.
The proposed plan includes dissolving the research office and reallocating remaining staff to other divisions within the agency “to enhance oversight and align with administration priorities.” This plan is under review by the White House.
An EPA spokesperson stated that the agency is undergoing important organizational changes to improve efficiency, emphasizing that no final decisions have been made yet.
California Representative Zoe Lofgren, a leading Democrat on the science committee, declared the elimination of the research office as illegal, asserting that it was established by Congress.
Lofgren emphasized that every decision by the EPA must prioritize the protection of human health and the environment, arguing that this is impossible without a robust scientific foundation.
Ticora Jones, chief science officer at the Natural Resources Defense Council, remarked that the EPA appears to prioritize corporate interests over public health.
She urged Congress to ensure that the EPA retains its scientists to continue addressing public demands for clean air and water.
