Latest news with #OfficeofAirandRadiation
Los Angeles Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Shake-up at EPA threatens Energy Star, climate offices
WASHINGTON — A proposal by the Trump administration to reorganize the Environmental Protection Agency targets divisions that house its climate change offices as well as Energy Star, a widely popular program designed to help lower energy costs for American households. A chart of the proposed reorganization reviewed by The Times on Tuesday showed plans for vast changes to the Office of Air and Radiation, where the programs are currently held, among several other divisions. 'EPA is delivering organizational improvements to the personnel structure that will directly benefit the American people and better advance the agency's core mission, while Powering the Great American Comeback,' the agency said. Energy Star was at risk during the first Trump administration, when the EPA last faced an exodus of scientific talent, but ultimately survived. The program sets energy efficiency guidelines for the manufacturers of household products such as refrigerators, heat pumps and dishwashers, which then display the program's logo if they meet its standards. Earlier Tuesday, CNN and the Washington Post reported that the proposed restructuring would specifically eliminate Energy Star. 'Trump's plan to end the Energy Star program is a blow to American families and businesses everywhere,' Ed Markey, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, said on social media in response to the news. 'This program has saved $500 billion in energy costs over the past 30 years. Energy efficiency isn't just an environmental solution — it's an economic one.' Plans to eliminate the program could pose political challenges to a president who ran for office, in part, on lowering energy costs. 'We intend to slash prices by half within 12 months, at a maximum 18 months,' Donald Trump said on the campaign trail last year about Americans' energy bills. EPA staff members are undergoing a second round of deferred resignation offers, similar to buyouts, alongside their colleagues across several other government agencies. It is likely the last chance for career staff to leave willingly. A reorganization will allow for the government to implement layoffs with greater discretion. Changes at the Office of Air and Radiation could alter or compromise other critical programs within the division, such as the agency's efforts to monitor trends in air pollution throughout the country and provide energy resources to state, local and tribal governments, helping them improve local air quality and lower greenhouse gas emissions. But Lee Zeldin, President Trump's EPA administrator, said in a video released May 2 that a new office to be formed in its place is intended to work 'with — not against — state, local and tribal air permitting agencies to improve processing of state implementation plans and resolving air permitting concerns.' The energy star logo is displayed on a freezer box. 'We owe it to the American taxpayer to be as efficient as possible,' said Zeldin, who characterized the restructuring proposal as an effort to bring the EPA down to Reagan-era staffing levels, saving $300 million a year by 2026. 'With these organizational improvements, we can assure the American people that we are dedicated to EPA's core mission of protecting human health and the environment.' The Air and Radiation division also maintains the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality, the primary body that monitors vehicle emissions throughout the country and sets national fuel efficiency standards — an office that often finds itself at odds with the California Air Resources Board. And yet, perhaps the most dramatic cuts may be to the agency's main office devoted to understanding, tracking and combating climate change, which is housed under the same division set for a shuffle. The restructuring, if implemented, would go further in rolling back the U.S. fight against climate change than Trump did in his first term, when his EPA administrator, Andrew Wheeler, cast doubt on the threats posed by a warming planet. In April, the Trump administration fired a large group of scientists producing a major quadrennial U.S. report on climate change, called the National Climate Assessment, and moved to slash research funding at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House last week. Zeldin has previously said he plans to cut 'at least' 65% of the agency's total spending, after cutting back its travel costs and office space, and placing the majority of its Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights staff on leave. 'We will pursue efficiencies,' Zeldin said. 'The American people can rest assured knowing that, with our EPA team, there will be zero tolerance for wasting even a penny of your taxpayer dollars.'
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EPA chief Zeldin announces overhauls to bring agency back to Reagan-level staffing
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing a massive overhaul to slash staffing down to Reagan-era levels and save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars a year, agency chief Lee Zeldin announced on Friday. "This reorganization will bring much-needed efficiencies to incorporate science into our rulemakings and sharply focus our work on providing the cleanest air, land, and water for our communities," Zeldin said in a press release on Friday. Zeldin announced that he is on a mission to save taxpayers an estimated $300 million annually by next year through an office overhaul that he said will maintain the EPA's focus on protecting human health and the environment while "recommitting" the agency to "common sense policies." The EPA employs roughly 15,000 full-time workers, which Zeldin said he is working to bring down to levels "near those seen when President Ronald Reagan occupied the White House," according to a video announcement of the office overhauls. There were 11,400 EPA staffers in 1984 under the Reagan administration, Reuters reported. 35 Democrats Vote With Gop To Block Biden Rule Allowing Newsom's Gas Car Ban The EPA said the Office of the Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), and Office of Water will all face restructuring. Read On The Fox News App Zeldin said he will reorganize the agency's research office to shift its focus on "statutory obligations and mission-essential functions," including by creating a new office called the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions. The new office will "prioritize research and put science at the forefront of the agency's rulemakings and technical assistance to states. At the program level, the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention will add more than 130 scientific, technical, bioinformatic and information technology experts to work directly on the backlog of over 504 new chemicals in review that are beyond the statutorily required timeframe. And they're also going to address the backlog of over 12,000 reviews that are well beyond the expected review timelines in the pesticides program," Zeldin said. Epa Chief Takes On Mexican 'Sewage Crisis' Flowing Into Us Waters Where Navy Seals Train The EPA will also create the Office of State Air Partnerships within the Office of Air and Radiation, which Zeldin said will streamline resolving air permitting concerns across the state, local and tribal levels. "EPA is also creating the Office of Clean Air programs that will align statutory obligations and mission essential functions based on centers of expertise to ensure more transparency and harmony in regulatory development. Similarly, changes to the Office of Water will better align the development of regulations, guidance and policy with the science that underpins it," Zeldin added of another new office in the agency shakeup. Peta, Animal Rights Groups Praise Trump Admin For Phasing Out 'Cruel Tests On Dogs' And Other Animals Zeldin underscored that when he took the reins of the agency earlier this year, he "inherited a workforce that didn't come into the office." "In 2024, the record high day of attendance at EPA headquarters in D.C., clocked in around 37%. Upon President Trump's swearing in, we immediately ended COVID-era remote work," Zeldin said. Scoop: Biden-era Grant Program Described As 'Gold Bar' Scheme By Trump Epa Administrator Under Scrutiny The former New York congressman added that EPA's budget and awards in granted last year alone, under the Biden administration, sat at $63 billion — though it had previously been funded to the tune of between $6 billion and $8 billion a year, he said. "We are going to massively reduce this excess spending. We owe it to the American taxpayer to be as efficient as possible. We've already started to make significant progress by re-examining grants and contracts, real estate footprint, travel costs, staff and more. With the help of DOGE, EPA has identified and canceled more than $22 billion in grants and contracts. These are direct savings for the American people," Zeldin article source: EPA chief Zeldin announces overhauls to bring agency back to Reagan-level staffing
Fox News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
EPA chief Zeldin announces overhauls to bring agency back to Reagan-level staffing
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing a massive overhaul to slash staffing down to Reagan-era levels and save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars a year, agency chief Lee Zeldin announced on Friday. "This reorganization will bring much-needed efficiencies to incorporate science into our rulemakings and sharply focus our work on providing the cleanest air, land, and water for our communities," Zeldin said in a press release on Friday. Zeldin announced that he is on a mission to save taxpayers an estimated $300 million annually by next year through an office overhaul that he said will maintain the EPA's focus on protecting human health and the environment while "recommitting" the agency to "common sense policies." The EPA employs roughly 15,000 full-time workers, which Zeldin said he is working to bring down to levels "near those seen when President Ronald Reagan occupied the White House," according to a video announcement of the office overhauls. There were 11,400 EPA staffers in 1984 under the Reagan administration, Reuters reported. The EPA said the Office of the Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), and Office of Water will all face restructuring. Zeldin said he will reorganize the agency's research office to shift its focus on "statutory obligations and mission-essential functions," including by creating a new office called the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions. The new office will "prioritize research and put science at the forefront of the agency's rulemakings and technical assistance to states. At the program level, the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention will add more than 130 scientific, technical, bioinformatic and information technology experts to work directly on the backlog of over 504 new chemicals in review that are beyond the statutorily required timeframe. And they're also going to address the backlog of over 12,000 reviews that are well beyond the expected review timelines in the pesticides program," Zeldin said. The EPA will also create the Office of State Air Partnerships within the Office of Air and Radiation, which Zeldin said will streamline resolving air permitting concerns across the state, local and tribal levels. "EPA is also creating the Office of Clean Air programs that will align statutory obligations and mission essential functions based on centers of expertise to ensure more transparency and harmony in regulatory development. Similarly, changes to the Office of Water will better align the development of regulations, guidance and policy with the science that underpins it," Zeldin added of another new office in the agency shakeup. Zeldin underscored that when he took the reins of the agency earlier this year, he "inherited a workforce that didn't come into the office." "In 2024, the record high day of attendance at EPA headquarters in D.C., clocked in around 37%. Upon President Trump's swearing in, we immediately ended COVID-era remote work," Zeldin said. The former New York congressman added that EPA's budget and awards in granted last year alone, under the Biden administration, sat at $63 billion — though it had previously been funded to the tune of between $6 billion and $8 billion a year, he said. "We are going to massively reduce this excess spending. We owe it to the American taxpayer to be as efficient as possible. We've already started to make significant progress by re-examining grants and contracts, real estate footprint, travel costs, staff and more. With the help of DOGE, EPA has identified and canceled more than $22 billion in grants and contracts. These are direct savings for the American people," Zeldin said.
