The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a sweeping reorganization Friday that will save $300 million annually and improve efficiency in meeting its environmental mission. The plan supports President Donald Trump’s government overhaul directive aimed at cutting waste and empowering the American people.
Zeldin said the restructuring will streamline how science is used in rulemaking, prioritize air and water quality, and enhance coordination with state and local partners. “This reorganization will bring much needed efficiencies… and save at least $300 million annually for the American people,” Zeldin stated.
Central to the overhaul is the creation of the Office of State Air Partnerships, which will help ensure consistent permitting support across states and tribal governments. The Office of Clean Air Programs will consolidate expertise to improve transparency and policy consistency.
A new Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES) will be launched within the Administrator’s office. It will focus EPA research efforts to better support environmental rulemaking and deliver scientifically grounded support to states.
The Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) will receive over 130 new technical experts to eliminate backlogs, including 504 pending new chemical reviews and more than 12,000 overdue pesticide assessments. This expansion aims to fast-track regulatory decisions while ensuring safety and compliance with federal law.
EPA will also enhance its response to PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” linked to cancers and reproductive harm. The reorganization equips the agency to better address these threats with the latest science and tools.
The agency’s new structure will align staffing levels to those during the Reagan administration. In March, the EPA shut down the Biden-era Environmental Justice and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) branches, eliminating 280 DEI and EJ roles and reassigning 175 staff.
Zeldin recently marked the first 100 days of the Trump administration’s second term with 100 EPA actions to “power the American comeback,” a clear break from the regulatory excesses of the Biden years.
