US environment agency axes nearly a quarter of workforce
In January, the federal agency tasked with ensuring clean air, land and water counted 16,155 employees.
Under the third round of 'Deferred Resignation Programme' cuts, that figure will drop to 12,448, a 22.9 per cent reduction.
The cuts are made up of employees who took deferred resignation - a programme pushed by former Trump administration chief cost-cutter Elon Musk - along with those who opted for early retirement or were laid off.
'EPA has taken a close look at our operations to ensure the agency is better equipped than ever to deliver on our core mission of protecting human health and the environment while Powering the Great American Comeback,' EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement.
'This reduction in force will ensure we can better fulfill that mission while being responsible stewards of your hard-earned tax dollars,' he added.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign Up
Sign Up
The statement added the cuts would generate US$748.8 million in savings.
The White House is seeking to slash the EPA's budget by 54 per cent to US$4.2 billion for Fiscal Year 2026.
Friday's announcement drops staffing to below the 12,856 full-time positions outlined in the president's proposed budget.
The agency's scientific research arm - the Office of Research and Development - is also being dismantled, replaced by a smaller Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions.
According to the EPA, the new office will work to eliminate backlogs in reviewing hundreds of chemicals and thousands of pesticides, while developing a new strategy to address so-called 'forever chemicals,' or PFAS.
Zeldin has been at the forefront of Trump's push to aggressively deregulate pollution protections and 'unleash' fossil fuels, drawing fierce backlash from scientists and environment advocates alike.
Earlier this month the EPA suspended 139 employees after they signed a scathing open letter accusing Zeldin of pushing policies hazardous to both people and the planet. AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
17 minutes ago
- Business Times
Silver shines bright amid gold pauses
WHILE gold may have dominated headlines over the past year, surging to as high as US$3,500 per ounce in April 2025, it has since entered a consolidation phase. After an extended rally, gold is taking a breather. During this pause, silver has emerged as the standout performer, recently breaching a 14-year high of US$39. This development has captured the attention of traders and technical analysts alike, as various indicators now point to the potential further upside in silver prices. Silver's recent strength first gained traction in early June when it surged more than 9 per cent within a single week. Following that sharp advance, prices have entered a month-long consolidation, forming a symmetrical triangle pattern. This is a classic bullish continuation pattern that often appears after a strong uptrend. On Jul 11, silver broke out of this triangle formation, reinforcing the bullish outlook. The breakout projects a technical price target near US$41.70, and as long as prices hold above the US$37.30 level, which now acts as a key support zone, the bullish case remains intact. Trend-following indicators further validate the bullish case. Since recovering from a sharp pullback in April, silver prices have consistently stayed above the 100-day exponential moving average. This moving average has served as a dynamic support level, and its ability to hold suggests that it has consistently attracted buying interest. Such price behaviour typically signals sustained bullish momentum and helps reinforce confidence among momentum traders. Momentum indicators also point to a constructive outlook. The Relative Strength Index (RSI), a widely used technical tool that measures the strength of price movements, remains comfortably above the neutral 50 level. This positioning indicates bullish momentum is still in play. Importantly, the RSI has yet to enter overbought territory, suggesting that there may still be room for prices to climb before any signs of exhaustion emerge. While past performance is not indicative of future results, silver's recent breakout and supportive trend structure present an attractive technical set-up. With gold in a consolidation phase, silver and other precious metals such as platinum and palladium may continue to take the lead, especially if the key support levels hold firm. A sustained move above US$39 for silver could pave the way towards testing the next major resistance zone near US$42, offering further opportunities for traders looking to ride the momentum. The writer is senior strategist, Phillip Nova
Straits Times
17 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Faint signs of life appear in effort to halt Ukraine war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed over the weekend to revive negotiations with Russia to end the war. NEW YORK - When Russian and Ukrainian peace negotiators met in June, they could agree on little more than exchanging bodies. Those negotiations, brokered by the Trump administration, appeared to show its goal of ending the war was deeply stalled. But that doesn't mean that the diplomatic entreaties don't continue – with both Russia and Ukraine trying in their own ways to appeal to the White House. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine proposed over the weekend to revive the talks. It was his first offer for renewed negotiations since the Trump administration agreed to facilitate the transfer of air defence weapons to Ukraine and threatened to impose sanctions on Russia's trading partners within 50 days – both steps intended to hasten negotiations. Mr Zelensky proposed talks on a ceasefire, prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children deported to Russia during the war. He reiterated an offer for a direct meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, first floated in May. Mr Putin had then remained silent for days before rejecting the offer. 'The Russian side must stop hiding from decisions,' Mr Zelensky said in a video address on the evening of July 19. Ukraine, he said, has offered a meeting in the coming week in Istanbul, where two previous rounds of talks took place in May and June. Mr Zelensky said his national security adviser, Mr Rustem Umerov, had conveyed the proposal to the Russian negotiating team. Russia did not immediately respond directly to Ukraine's offer. The Kremlin spokesperson, Mr Dmitri Peskov, told Russian state television on July 20 that Mr Putin wanted a peace agreement but that 'the main thing for us is to achieve our goals' in the war. 'President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible,' Mr Peskov said. 'This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy.' Tass, a Russian state news agency, confirmed that the Kremlin had received the offer. Russia is seeking additional territory, a declaration that Ukraine will not join Nato and will remain a neutral state, limits on the future size of Ukraine's army and recognition of Russian as an official language in Ukraine, among other demands. The Trump administration has pushed for an unconditional ceasefire before substantive talks on a final settlement. Ukraine agreed to that condition in March. NYTIMES
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
R&A discussed holding British Open at Turnberry with Eric Trump
Find out what's new on ST website and app. R&A CEO Mark Darbon said he met with Mr Trump's son, Eric, and representatives from Turnberry 'a couple of months ago'. – R&A chief executive officer Mark Darbon confirmed on July 16 he recently had a 'really good discussion' with Eric Trump about hosting a future British Open at Turnberry, owned by United States President Donald Trump. The course in South Ayrshire, Scotland, owned by Trump's organisation since 2014, has hosted the Major four times but not since 2009. 'It's a somewhat hypothetical question in that unless we address the logistical challenges, it's difficult for us to go back,' Darbon told reporters at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, site of the 153rd Open, which teed off on July 17. He said he met the American leader's son, Eric, and representatives from Turnberry 'a couple of months ago'. Logistical issues include the fact that only 120,000 spectators attended the last Open at Turnberry, compared to the 280,000 expected this week and the 250,000 at Royal Troon in Scotland in 2024. 'We had a really good discussion,' Darbon said. 'I think they understand clearly where we're coming from. 'We talked through some of the challenges that we have, so we've got a good dialogue with them.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi Meeting a member of the Trump family continues the thaw in what had become a testy relationship between the R&A and the current occupant of the White House. After Mr Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol in January 2021, then R&A boss Martin Slumbers said there were no plans to restore Turnberry to the Open rotation 'in the foreseeable future'. 'We will not return until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances,' Slumbers said at the time. That stance has softened since Mr Trump's election to a second term. Darbon, who replaced Slumbers in July 2024, said in April that he 'would love' to see the tournament return to Turnberry. 'We love the golf course but we've got some big logistical challenges there,' he said on July 16. 'We've got some work to do on the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure around Turnberry. 'We've explicitly not taken it out of our pool of venues, but we'd need to address those logistical challenges should we return.' Darbon also said the R&A has had an ongoing dialogue with the British government about staging a Major at a Trump-owned property. 'We've spoken to them specifically about Turnberry and I think they've made it clear that the decision around where we take our championship rests with us,' he said. Meanwhile, Oakmont Country Club has banned 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark from the property after the American caused damage in the locker room at June's US Open there. A letter from club president John Lynch to members this week that revealed the punishment was obtained by Golf Digest, ESPN and Golf Channel. The 31-year-old damaged his locker after missing the cut at the US Open, later apologising for the incident, the results of which were shown in photos on social media. REUTERS
