EPA puts 139 employees on leave after they publicly criticized Trump’s environmental policies
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently made headlines as 139 employees have been placed on administrative leave for signing a letter criticizing the Trump administration’s environmental policies. The letter, known as a “Declaration of Dissent,” calls out the administration for its harmful deregulation and disregard for scientific expertise, which the employees believe undermines the EPA’s core mission of protecting the environment.
The document, which was publicly released and garnered 620 signatures, outlines various concerns regarding changes to the EPA’s research and development practices and cuts to environmental justice initiatives that support vulnerable communities. The employees behind the letter express their frustration with the administration’s actions since January 2025, citing false claims of waste, fraud, and abuse as a basis for denigrating federal workers and dismantling public health and environmental protections for political gain.
Under the leadership of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the agency has slashed funding for environmental improvements in minority communities and has pledged to roll back federal regulations aimed at reducing air pollution in national parks and tribal reservations. This has sparked outrage among EPA employees, leading to the unprecedented move of placing 139 staffers on administrative leave for their dissent.
An EPA spokesperson justified the decision by stating that the agency has a zero-tolerance policy for career bureaucrats who undermine the administration’s agenda. The employees were notified that they would be on temporary, non-duty, paid status for the next two weeks pending an investigation. While the EPA maintains that this is not a disciplinary action, the move has raised concerns about potential retaliation against those who spoke out.
According to Jeremy Berg, a former editor-in-chief of Science magazine, over 170 EPA employees openly signed the letter, while another 100 signed anonymously out of fear of reprisal. The EPA has responded to the employees’ concerns by emphasizing that policy decisions are based on the latest research and science presented to Administrator Zeldin by agency staff.
The ongoing conflict between EPA employees and the Trump administration highlights the importance of upholding environmental protections and scientific integrity in government decision-making. The repercussions of this internal strife within the EPA remain to be seen as the investigation into the dissenting employees continues. As the debate over environmental policies and regulations rages on, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of our planet and the communities that depend on a clean and safe environment for their livelihoods.
