President Trump's administration takes aim at the Environmental Protection Agency's environmental justice division with sweeping personnel changes affecting hundreds of employees.
According to NPR, approximately 170 EPA employees from the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights were placed on paid administrative leave effective Thursday, impacting staff across headquarters and regional offices nationwide.
The affected employees primarily worked on initiatives designed to protect disadvantaged communities from environmental and climate-related harm. The move follows President Trump's executive orders signed on his first day in office, signaling his intention to dismantle environmental justice programs across federal agencies.
EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou defended the decision, stating that the affected positions were unrelated to statutory duties or grant work.
The agency claims it is reviewing its organizational structure to ensure alignment with its core mission of protecting public health and the environment.
Matthew Tejada, former deputy assistant administrator for OEJECR during the Biden administration, expressed concern about the decision's impact. Now working as a senior environmental health specialist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, he believes the staff reduction severely compromises the EPA's environmental justice initiatives.
Environmental justice expert Sacoby Wilson from the University of Maryland emphasized the broader implications. He shared his perspective on the situation, stating:
What's at stake here is public health. What's at stake here is the future of our children to live in healthy environments. What's at stake here is our democracy, the rule of law, the American dream.
The environmental justice office has evolved significantly since its establishment by President George H. W. Bush in 1992. Under the Biden administration, it expanded considerably through the merger of multiple offices in 2022, growing to over 200 staff members by 2024.
The office currently manages more than $3 billion in climate and environmental justice grants and loans, funded largely through the Inflation Reduction Act. These resources support various community projects, including disaster preparedness infrastructure and tribal energy initiatives.
Former EPA administrator advisor Zealan Hoover noted that over 80% of program funds had been allocated to community-led projects. However, the Trump administration's January federal grant funding freeze has created uncertainty about these initiatives' future.
The administrative leave affects employees across EPA's headquarters and ten regional offices. Anonymous agency officials revealed the scope of impact, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fears of retaliation.
The decision has broader implications for ongoing environmental justice initiatives, particularly those serving disadvantaged communities historically affected by pollution. Many projects, including community shelter improvements and tribal solar installations, now face uncertain futures.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment about the situation, leaving questions about the long-term fate of environmental justice programs unanswered.
