The Trump administration announces the reorganization and the staff cuts at the EPA: NPR

Trump administration Announced plans Friday, for a significant reorganization of the Environmental Protection Agency, and reported major reductions in the future endowment – in particular for the agency’s scientific research branch.

The administrator of EPA Lee Zeldin said the EPA plans to reduce staff to levels similar to the 1980s, when President Ronald Reagan occupied the White House, in order to “operate as effectively and effectively as possible”.

This could potentially mean thousands of less employees. The agency currently has a workforce of About 15,000 people. Reagan administration staff fluctuated between 11,000 and 14,000 employees.

The agency provides major changes in the Research and Development Office, the EPA wing which provides scientific analysis on the risks of air pollution, chemicals and other environmental risks. It plans to move scientific staff from the IMF to existing policy firms, who write regulations and send others to newly created offices.

On Friday, during a meeting, the management of the EPA told the Ord staff to expect discounts in the coming weeks.

The former EPA official, Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, said that reorganization could undermine research to EPA and its ability to protect human health.

“By dividing things or eliminating this expertise, we put people more at risk and we put this country more at risk,” explains Orme-Zavaleta.

The Ord has historically provided independent scientific assessments on the risks of environmental contaminants, lead in drinking water to air pollution. Its scientists has provided fundamental research on some of the most difficult environmental problems in the country.

Ord researchers were among the first to identify PFAS sources as health dangers over a decade, for example. Before that, the search for a North Carolina Laboratory Direct links established between breathing in different quantities of ozone – the main component of SMOG – and health problems such as asthma. Political decision -makers within the agency are based on Ord Science to design rules to protect Americans from pollution.

The EPA administrator, Lee Zeldin, announced a reorganization for the EPA “to work as effectively as possible”. The reshuffle would create several new offices, but the agency’s leaders told staff to expect significant job discounts in the coming weeks.

Evan VUCCI / AP

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Evan VUCCI / AP

Experts fear that personnel and budget changes can lead to major research reductions. Zeldin has previously announced its intention to reduce the overall EPA budget By 65% In the years to come. In its budget submitted to Congress this week, the Trump administration called for a drop of approximately 45% to the Ord budget.

“The magnitude of this type of cut would really affect the entire EPA research company,” explains Chris Frey, dean of research at North Carolina State University who directed Ord during the Biden administration.

In an editorial published Friday in NowsweekZeldin said that reorganization efforts are intended to “transform EPA into a more efficient and effective agency”.

He says that the proposed changes will save around $ 300 million by 2026 – a saving of around 3% compared to the agency’s 2024 budget $ 9 billion.

Scientific staff are worried about “musical chairs”

On Friday, at a meeting on Friday, EPA leaders encouraged the 1,500 Ord employees to apply for around 500 new positions created in the reorganization.

“I have the impression that they play musical chairs, but by eliminating half of the chairs, and everyone is going to be cut,” said a scientist of the EPA staff who attended the meeting. NPR does not use their name because they fear reprisals to speak publicly.

Reorganization is only the last change to EPA. In March, Zeldin announced ambitious plans to examine and potentially back down More than two dozen environmental rules and policies.

Earlier this year, the agency announcement It would close the offices focused on environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion and freeze millions of dollars in grants. In his declaration on Friday, The agency said These cuts led to a reduction in force of around 280 people, while 175 people were transferred to other offices.

During its first 100 days, the Trump administration reduced the federal government’s scientific programs. He has drawn from hundreds of scientists to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and reduced funding for research administered through the National Health Institutes and the National Sciences Foundation. He also has licensed scientists working on the assessment of the national climateThe government’s flagship report on how global warming affects the United States