EPA eliminates research and development office, begins layoffs

WASHINGTON AP The Environmental Protection Agency stated Friday it is eliminating its research and evolution arm and reducing agency staff by thousands of employees The agency s Office of Research and Enhancement has long provided the scientific underpinnings for EPA s mission to protect the climate and human vitality The EPA reported in May it would shift its scientific expertise and research efforts to operation offices that focus on major issues like air and water The agency explained Friday it is creating a new Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions that will allow it to focus on research and science more than ever before Once fully implemented the changes will save the EPA nearly million executives declared EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin reported in a report that the changes publicized Friday would ensure the agency is better equipped than ever to deliver on our core mission of protecting human fitness and the ecosystem while Powering the Great American Comeback The EPA also mentioned it is beginning the process to eliminate thousands of jobs following a Supreme Court ruling last week that cleared the way for President Donald Trump s plans to downsize the federal workforce despite warnings that critical administration services will be lost and hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be out of their jobs Total staffing at EPA will go down to a reduction of more than employees or nearly from staffing levels in January when Trump took office the agency reported This reduction in force will ensure we can better fulfill that mission while being responsible stewards of your hard-earned tax dollars Zeldin mentioned using a executive term for mass firings Heart and brain of EPA Rep Zoe Lofgren of California the top Democrat on the House Science Committee called the elimination of the research office a travesty The Trump administration is firing hardworking scientists while employing political appointees whose job it is to lie incessantly to Congress and to the American people she commented The obliteration of ORD will have generational impacts on Americans physical condition and safety The Office of Research and Expansion is the heart and brain of the EPA mentioned Justin Chen president of American Federation of Leadership Employees Council which represents thousands of EPA employees Without it we don t have the means to assess impacts upon human wellness and the milieu Chen explained Its destruction will devastate residents soundness in our country The research office EPA s main science arm at this time has positions excluding special administration employees and citizens robustness officers according to agency documents reviewed by Democratic staff on the House science panel earlier this year As a multitude of as chemists biologists toxicologists and other scientists could be laid off the documents indicated The research office has facilities across the country stretching from Florida and North Carolina to Oregon An EPA spokeswoman revealed Friday that all laboratory functions at present conducted by the research office will continue In addition to the reduction in force or RIF the agency also is offering the third round of deferred resignations for eligible employees including research office staff spokeswoman Molly Vaseliou explained The application period is open until July Declaration of dissent The EPA s announcement comes two weeks after the agency put on administrative leave employees who signed a declaration of dissent with agency policies under the Trump administration The agency accused the employees of unlawfully undermining Trump s agenda In a letter made constituents June the employees wrote that the EPA is no longer living up to its mission to protect human fitness and the ecosystem The letter represented rare society criticism from agency employees who knew they could face retaliation for speaking out Source