EPA Suspends About 140 Staff After Letter Condemns Trump Policies

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Published Jul 3, 2025, 08:42 PM

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday placed roughly 139–144 career employees on paid administrative leave after they signed a public letter criticizing the Trump administration’s environmental agenda and leadership, according to internal emails and agency statements.

The letter, delivered Monday to Administrator Lee Zeldin, accused top officials of politicizing the agency, ignoring scientific consensus and dismantling programs on climate and environmental justice. It cited statements likening climate science to a "religion" and describing coal as "beautiful," and warned that staff were working in a "culture of fear."

In a message to those affected, the EPA said the employees will remain in a temporary non-duty status for two weeks while the agency conducts an administrative investigation. Press secretary Brigit Hirsch said the move reflects a “zero-tolerance policy for career bureaucrats unlawfully undermining, sabotaging and undercutting the administration’s agenda as voted for by the great people of this country last November.”

Union and advocacy groups decried the suspensions. Nicole Cantello, an EPA attorney and president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704, called the action “blatant retaliation” and vowed to defend the workers. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility said the First Amendment protects the employees’ right to express dissent.

The employees on leave represent less than 1% of the EPA’s 15,000-plus workforce, yet the bulk suspension is among the largest in the agency’s history and underscores continuing friction between the Trump administration and federal scientists over climate and pollution policy.

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#Trump #Lee Zeldin #EPA #Brigit Hirsch #Union #Nicole Cantello #First Amendment

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EPA places 139 on leave over letter bashing Trump policies

The Washington Post

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The Trump administration has placed on leave roughly 140 staffers at the Environmental Protection Agency who signed a letter of dissent protesting the agency’s current direction and policies, according to emails obtained by The Post.