Employees with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a public letter of dissent against EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin over his leadership in line with President Donald Trump’s policies.
“EPA employees join in solidarity with employees across the federal government in opposing this administration’s policies, including those that undermine the EPA mission of protecting human health and the environment,” employees wrote, adding that they “stand together in dissent against the current administration’s focus on harmful deregulation, mischaracterization of previous EPA actions, and disregard for scientific expertise.”
Staff listed their concerns, including the alleged undermining of public trust, ignoring science, reversing the EPA’s protection of “vulnerable communities,” dismantling the Office of Research and Development, and promoting a “culture of fear.”
“Your decisions and actions will reverberate for generations to come,” the employees wrote to Zeldin. “EPA under your leadership will not protect communities from hazardous chemicals and unsafe drinking water, but instead will increase risks to public health and safety.”
More than 380 EPA employees included their names on the letter, while another 174 remained anonymous.
An EPA spokesperson responded to the letter, stating that policy decisions “are a result of a process where Administrator Zeldin is briefed on the latest research and science by EPA’s career professionals, and the vast majority who are consummate professionals who take pride in the work this agency does day in and day out.” The statement went on to criticize the Biden administration for efforts that sought to “shut down American energy and make our citizens more reliant on foreign fossil fuels.”
A similar letter was sent to the NIH earlier this month.
