EPA Overhauls Staff and Research Division
On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a significant restructuring plan, which includes the termination of its research and development division along with substantial staff reductions. This decision is poised to affect thousands of employees.
The Research and Development Bureau has historically served as the scientific backbone of the EPA’s efforts to safeguard both the environment and public health. The agency stated these changes are set to take effect in May, with a focus on reorienting program offices towards pressing topics like air and water quality.
In place of the research division, the EPA will introduce a new office dedicated to Applied Science and Environmental Solutions.
According to officials, these shifts are expected to save the agency nearly $750 million over time. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized that these changes are meant to better equip the agency in fulfilling its vital mission of ensuring human health and environmental protection.
The EPA is also beginning a process that will lead to the elimination of numerous positions. A recent Supreme Court decision had, perhaps unexpectedly, enabled the president to pursue plans aimed at downsizing the federal workforce, though this has sparked concerns regarding the potential loss of essential government services.
Once all changes are executed, the number of EPA staff will drop to around 12,448, representing a nearly 23% reduction from the staffing levels when the current administration came into power.
“These cuts will help us align more effectively with our core mission, while holding us accountable for how taxpayer money is used,” Zeldin noted, describing the mass layoffs in broader terms.
Democratic Representative Zoe Lofgren from California referred to the termination of the lab as a grave mistake. She criticized the Trump administration for dismissing dedicated scientists, while suggesting that political appointees might not uphold the same scientific integrity. “This erasure will have lasting consequences on public health and safety,” she argued.
The Research and Development Bureau, described by Justin Chen, chairman of the Council of the United States Government Employees Council 238 (which represents many EPA workers), as the “mind and brain” of the agency, raises serious concerns. He stated, “Without it, we’re left unable to evaluate the impact on human health and the environment.” He fears these changes could have dire consequences for public health across the nation.
Currently, the EPA’s primary scientific division maintains about 1,540 positions, excluding certain officials, and documents reviewed earlier indicated that up to 1,155 scientists—chemists, biologists, toxicologists, and others—might face layoffs.
This research division operates 10 facilities, spanning locations from Florida and North Carolina to Oregon. An EPA spokesperson reassured that all ongoing laboratory activities would continue uninterrupted.
Alongside these job cuts, the agency is also offering a third round of voluntary resignation options for eligible employees, including those in the research division, with applications open until July 25.
