Congressional Democrats group was denied entry into the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after trying to meet with officials at the Government Efficiency Bureau (DOGE) and former Lee Zeldin (RN.Y.), an agency manager. He said.
Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) along with Paul Tonko (DN.Y.) and Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) tried to enter the EPA headquarters in Washington on Thursday, but was turned away. I did.
“We were just denied entry to the EPA after asking us to meet with Doge representatives. Markey posted on x.
They said some programs from the Inflation Reduction Act have not been distributed to the grantees, and potential cuts in funding could hinder the work of agencies that maintain clear water and air. I warned that there was.
“And now, Elon Musk wants to turn the EPA into an ally of all polluters — he wants to remove environmental cops from the beat. Markey said at a news conference outside the EPA on Thursday. “And we are here today to make sure we have the right to clean the water, our healthy community, and our air.”
“We had some simple questions for them,” the Massachusetts legislator added. “They are still freezing EPA funds for all clean air and clean water programs in our country? They block important work they do every day to protect people in our country. Are you doing it?”
Zeldin, who took the role more than a week ago, was in California on Thursday to assess recovery efforts after the devastating Los Angeles fire last month.
Some grantees said they had no access to funds last week after Trump's executive order came into effect. Others have been able to gain access since then, but lawmakers on Thursday claim that funding for some programs is still frozen.
Earlier this week, Democrats were also denied access to the United States Organization for International Development (USAID), an agency whose current administration has now folded under the State Department's umbrella. Other Capitol Hill Democrats were not permitted to enter the Treasury Department. At both agencies, Doge officials have seen headquarters visit.
“President Trump made it very clear that he cares about those polluters more than the final line for our public health,” Tonko said Thursday.
Oka reached for the EPA for comments.
