Overview

• The EPA confirmed it terminated some staff who signed a June public petition, without disclosing how many, while union officials say at least eight were fired.
• The Associated Press reports that six probationary employees and at least two career staff were among those dismissed after an internal review.
• The June 'Declaration of Dissent,' signed by more than 170 employees, accused leadership under Administrator Lee Zeldin and President Donald Trump of harmful deregulation and sidelining science.
• Roughly 139 to 140 signers were placed on administrative leave in early July, and the AFGE union condemned the firings as retaliation and a violation of labor and free-speech rights.
• The personnel actions coincide with sweeping cuts, including elimination of the EPA’s research arm and a plan to reduce total staff to about 12,500, a drop of more than 3,700 employees.