• "Controversial EPA Chief Zeldin Shakes Up Agency with Sweeping Changes"

  • Feb 23 2025
  • Length: 3 mins
  • Podcast

"Controversial EPA Chief Zeldin Shakes Up Agency with Sweeping Changes"

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  • Summary

  • Since his confirmation as the 17th Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator on January 29, 2025, Lee Zeldin has been at the forefront of significant changes and controversies within the agency. One of the most notable announcements came on February 4, 2025, when Administrator Zeldin unveiled the “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative. This initiative is designed to align the EPA's mission with the economic and environmental priorities of the Trump administration. The plan is structured around five pillars, including ensuring clean air, land, and water for every American, and fostering economic growth while protecting human health and the environment[1].

    However, Zeldin's tenure has also been marked by a series of policy freezes and restructuring efforts. Immediately after taking office, the EPA implemented a temporary halt on all environmental lawsuits and external communications. This freeze includes stopping pending court filings, delaying new complaints, and putting Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act negotiations on hold. Additionally, the agency has delayed several finalized environmental rules from the prior administration, including those related to air pollution and the regulation of trichloroethylene (TCE)[2].

    The new administration has also introduced significant changes to the EPA's workforce. As part of a broader presidential order, EPA employees are required to return to full-time in-person work by February 24, 2025, ending telework and remote work arrangements. This move is part of an effort to increase office attendance, which had been as low as 37% on the highest single-day attendance and averaged just 8.9% on Mondays and Fridays[4].

    Moreover, the EPA is undergoing substantial staffing cuts, particularly targeting employees hired during the Biden administration who were working on climate change, air pollution, and environmental regulation programs. Over 1,000 employees who joined the agency within the past year are at risk of being laid off, and several senior civil service managers have been reassigned to focus on immigration rather than environmental issues[2].

    The Office of Environmental Justice has been particularly affected, with 168 staffers placed on administrative leave as the agency evaluates its new structure and organization. This move has left many employees uncertain about their future, with some preparing for the possibility of being laid off. The Trump administration has also discussed terminating environmental justice offices and positions, which could result in the firing of hundreds of staff members[3][5].

    The changes under Administrator Zeldin have been met with concern from former EPA officials and current employees, who worry that these actions will unravel decades of work protecting public health from pollution. The administration's alignment with industries regulated by the EPA, such as oil and mining, has further raised concerns about the agency's ability to fulfill its mission of protecting human health and the environment[5].
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