EPA to Receive Major Slash In Employment

On July 18, 2025, reports including by The New York Times revealed that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is undertaking a sweeping restructuring under Administrator Lee Zeldin with strong backing from President Trump’s executive authority. The overhaul includes eliminating the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) and reducing the agency’s workforce by approximately 23%, from roughly 16,155 to an anticipated 12,448 employees, thus affecting more than 3,700 staff, including over 1,500 scientists The Wall Street Journal.

EPA’s ORD has long served as the agency’s core scientific engine—conducting crucial research on PFAS contamination, respiratory illnesses, Valley fever, wildfire smoke, and other climate-related threats Reuters. Leading innovation efforts like the Kolibri drone-based air quality sensor project risk being paused or shuttered without specialized staff The Wall Street Journal. Remaining scientific staff may be redistributed to program offices, and a newly formed Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions will assume more targeted research Wikipedia.

Administrator Zeldin framed the changes as an effort to improve fiscal discipline with a projected savings of $748.8 million, stating that the realignment aims to better deliver on the EPA’s mission while being mindful of taxpayer resources frey.wordpress.ncsu.edu.

However, critics — including Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and EPA workers’ union president Justin Chen — denounced the restructuring as a political purge that risks long-term public health and environmental safety. Lofgren called the move “a travesty” and warned of generational harm U.S. News. The removal of scientific experts, they argue, undermines the scientific foundation of EPA rulemaking and compromises evidence-based policy frey.wordpress.ncsu.eduGV Wire.

In recent weeks, the Supreme Court approved expansions of presidential power to downsize federal agencies—a legal change that enabled this round of firings and reshaping New York Post. The EPA also placed 139 dissenting employees—who had signed a statement opposing the reshuffle—on administrative leave, intensifying concerns over politicization of scientific dissent PBS.

Several ongoing research projects are now in jeopardy. Reuters reported that multiple ORD offices halted field studies and paused grants. In particular, the Kolibri wildfire smoke sensor and research on PFAS and Valley fever have been specifically flagged as potentially discontinued GV Wire.

Key Points

• EPA is eliminating the Office of Research and Development and cutting 23% of its workforce (~3,700 employees) PBS.
• Core scientific programs—such as PFAS risk analysis, respiratory illness studies, Valley fever research, and wildfire smoke monitoring via instruments like Kolibri—are at risk Reuters.
• A new “Applied Science and Environmental Solutions” office will absorb some research responsibilities, with cost savings estimated at $748.8 million AP News.
• Critics warn of eroding evidence-based regulatory capacity and severing long-term health protections AP News.
• Legal expansion of presidential authority paved the way for restructuring; dissenting EPA scientists have faced administrative retaliation ReutersThe Guardian.

Implications & Outlook

• Environmental and public health risk: Reduction of scientific capacity may delay or weaken critical studies on pollution, climate resilience, and health hazards.
• Regulatory integrity: Policy decisions traditionally informed by independent research could increasingly reflect political priorities.
• Scientific morale and retention: Ongoing demoralization and loss of talent could hinder long-term capacity, undermining the agency’s mission.
• Program consolidation: The EPA may increasingly rely on grants and partnerships rather than in-house expertise, altering oversight structure and collaboration.
• Legislative and public response: Congressional oversight hearings and litigation may challenge the restructuring, particularly in light of dissent and potential safety impacts.