Particle.news

Download on the App Store

EPA Announces $300 Million Reorganization, Cutting Staff and Shifting Focus

Administrator Lee Zeldin unveils a restructuring plan to reduce workforce, eliminate climate and equity programs, and prioritize core statutory duties like air and water safety.

FILE - A sign on the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency is displayed on March 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
The headquarters of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 18, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, accompanied by Education Secretary Linda McMahon (R), speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 30.
FILE - EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Overview

  • The Environmental Protection Agency will save $300 million annually by reducing staffing to Reagan-era levels and eliminating climate and diversity programs.
  • Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the creation of new offices, including the Office of State Air Partnerships and the Office of Clean Air Programs, to enhance coordination with local and state agencies.
  • The restructuring integrates scientific staff into program offices, dissolving the standalone Office of Research and Development to better align research with regulatory needs.
  • Key priorities for the Office of Water now include cybersecurity, emergency response, and water reuse initiatives to address pressing challenges.
  • Future workforce reductions of approximately 10% may occur, according to sources familiar with the ongoing reorganization efforts.