Latest news with #OfficeofResearchandDevelopment
E&E News
17-05-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
EPA pause on job reassignments underscores staff frustrations
EPA's pause on all job reassignments augments a chaotic, competitive, confusing process, agency employees say. Staffers have been left guessing which positions would be eliminated and if they should apply to the new openings if they wanted to stay at EPA. 'We've been calling it the Hunger Games,' said one employee granted anonymity, referring to the fictional young adult dystopian series where teenagers are forced to compete for survival as part of a government-sponsored game. '1,500 employees scrambling for … we don't even know how many jobs.' Advertisement The Office of Research and Development's more than 1,500 staffers have been encouraged to apply for the positions, under assumptions that a shuttered research center, restricted spending powers and draft plans to fire or reassign a majority of researchers were signs of the office's demise. EPA press officials say ORD was not part of this phase of reorganization, but politically appointed leaders have encouraged research office employees to apply for the positions on the internal job board. A little more than 50 positions were made available under five offices: the Office of Water; the Office of Air and Radiation; the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention; the Office of the Administrator; and the Office of Land and Emergency Management, which was not included in the reorganization plans announced earlier this month. Multiple positions with the same title — industrial hygienist, public affairs specialist, IT specialist, to name a few — were made available in two or more offices, according to images of the postings reviewed by POLITICO's E&E News. It is common for employees at EPA to share the same title. But the positions offered few details on what the job might entail. 'The interviews that were held were very general, without details as to the nature of the work, performance expectation,' said Joyce Howell, executive vice president of American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, the union representing the largest number of EPA employees. In response to questions on how many people the agency is hoping to find to fill these positions and questions on if there will be another round of lateral reassignments, EPA's press office referred to the agency's policy to not speak on personnel actions. 'During one of the calls they made it sound like these offers are more like wish lists, because they aren't entirely sure how many positions they get to fill,' said the employee granted anonymity. The employee said they were offered a position in the land office and was asked to fill out paperwork by Friday, before hearing about other positions they applied for in other offices. 'I absolutely believe they are competing against the other program offices,' the employee said. During a Senate hearing this week on EPA's budget, agency Administrator Lee Zeldin dodged questions about target employment levels, adding that 'each office is going to be identifying how much that office needs.' When Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) asked if 10,000 workers may be the goal for the agency, which had roughly 14,700 employees at the end of the Biden administration, Zeldin said that 'is lower than the actual number.' More than 3,000 EPA staffers signed up to take one of the agency's 'early out' offers, as part of the Trump administration's mission to reduce the size and spending of the federal government. It is unclear how many people have left the agency on their own terms since President Donald Trump took office in January. Despite the court-ordered temporary halt on EPA's reorganization plans, that does not affect the timeline to accept or decline agreement proposals being sent to the 2,617 employees who signed up for the agency's second deferred resignation offer, which closed last week, according to an internal memo. Reach the reporter on Signal at eborst.64.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EPA tells scientists to apply for new jobs within the agency
Political leaders at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have told scientists there to apply to new jobs, implying that those who do not may be fired, according to an official with a union representing the agency's employees. 'People in ORD [the Office of Research and Development] were told to apply for these positions,' said Joyce Howell, executive vice president of the union. Howell recalled that the comment came from political officials during a meeting with EPA staffers. Someone asked during the meeting what would happen to those who did not apply to new positions and was told 'these are your opportunities,' she said, adding that the implication was that those who did not apply to or get a new position would be fired. Howell said that employees were told 155 jobs were opening up in the agency's chemicals office, 300 were opening up in the administrator's office and 50 would open up in the air and radiation office, while an unspecified number would open up in the water office. But reports have indicated that some 1,500 people work in ORD. Howell warned that if the rest of these jobs are lost, the agency could be losing not only 'independent science' but also the 'expertise' of those staffers. Chris Frey, who led ORD under the Biden administration, raised concerns about the future of the research office — and what it may mean for the American people. 'Without the evolution of the science, …we would see a difference that EPA will do less to protect public health and the environment,' Frey said. 'We've seen announcements from the administrator of EPA to roll back basically all of the major standards that were set during the Biden administration for air pollution and water quality, contaminants in land and chemicals in commerce, and all of those decisions are made based on an assessment of what is the harm to public health and the environment,' he added. Asked about whether employees in the agency's science arm were instructed to apply for the new job openings, an EPA spokesperson said via email that 'All EPA employees were provided this opportunity via an internal hiring authority.' 'The May 2 announcement was the next phase of organizational improvements and part of a larger, comprehensive effort to restructure the entire agency,' the spokesperson said. 'The Office of Research and Development was not part of this announcement. EPA's Talent Hub went live Friday night (May 2) with new and open positions in offices impacted by this phase of reorganization … All EPA employees are eligible to apply,' continued the email. The Hill also obtained an internal email, first reported by E&E News, that appears to detail changes to the agency's Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, which conducts studies to examine the impact of exposures to chemicals on people and ecosystems. An email signed by the director and deputy director of the center says, 'Lab research will wind down over the next few weeks as we will no longer have the capability to acquire supplies and materials.' 'We requested for an exemption for journal articles but have not heard if that is approved,' the internal email states. 'ORD is shutting down their laboratory activities. We are unsure if these laboratory activities will continue post-reorganization.' The EPA, however, described this email as 'factually inaccurate.' 'No ORD funding requests to [the Office of Mission Support] have been denied. In fact, we have approved numerous contracts for ongoing ORD research dating back to January,' an agency spokesperson said. 'At ORD and throughout the agency, EPA is continuing research and labs to advance the mission of protecting human health and the environment,' the spokesperson continued. The alleged changes are coming in the wake of a broad reorganization announced by the agency earlier this month, part of sweeping changes enacted by the Trump administration. EPA said that it would be 'shifting its scientific expertise and research efforts' to its program offices, including those that make decisions about whether to protect air and water and how to regulate chemicals. The agency said at the time that this phase in its reorganization does not include layoffs, but that it hoped to eventually get staffing levels down to where they were in the Reagan era — meaning that around 1,000 to 3,000 of the agency's 15,000 positions could ultimately go. Democratic staff of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee reviewed a plan earlier this year indicating that the EPA has considered eliminating ORD entirely. The Trump administration has indicated that it wants to cut jobs at agencies across the board — and that it intends to carry out mass firings across the federal government. On Friday, a federal judge ordered a temporary pause in the administration's plans. An EPA spokesperson declined to say whether its reorganization efforts will be impacted by that order, saying the agency doesn't comment on pending litigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
EPA tells scientists to apply for new jobs within the agency
Political leaders at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have told scientists there to apply to new jobs, implying that those who do not may be fired, according to an official with a union representing the agency's employees. 'People in ORD [the Office of Research and Development] were told to apply for these positions,' said Joyce Howell, executive vice president of the union. Howell recalled that the comment came from political officials during a meeting with EPA staffers. Someone asked during the meeting what would happen to those who did not apply to new positions and was told 'these are your opportunities,' she said, adding that the implication was that those who did not apply to or get a new position would be fired. Howell said that employees were told 155 jobs were opening up in the agency's chemicals office, 300 were opening up in the administrator's office and 50 would open up in the air and radiation office, while an unspecified number would open up in the water office. But reports have indicated that some 1,500 people work in ORD. Howell warned that if the rest of these jobs are lost, the agency could be losing not only 'independent science' but also the 'expertise' of those staffers. Chris Frey, who led ORD under the Biden administration, raised concerns about the future of the research office — and what it may mean for the American people. 'Without the evolution of the science, …we would see a difference that EPA will do less to protect public health and the environment,' Frey said. 'We've seen announcements from the administrator of EPA to roll back basically all of the major standards that were set during the Biden administration for air pollution and water quality, contaminants in land and chemicals in commerce, and all of those decisions are made based on an assessment of what is the harm to public health and the environment,' he added. Asked about whether employees in the agency's science arm were instructed to apply for the new job openings, an EPA spokesperson said via email that 'All EPA employees were provided this opportunity via an internal hiring authority.' 'The May 2 announcement was the next phase of organizational improvements and part of a larger, comprehensive effort to restructure the entire agency,' the spokesperson said. 'The Office of Research and Development was not part of this announcement. EPA's Talent Hub went live Friday night (May 2) with new and open positions in offices impacted by this phase of reorganization … All EPA employees are eligible to apply,' continued the email. The Hill also obtained an internal email, first reported by E&E News, that appears to detail changes to the agency's Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, which conducts studies to examine the impact of exposures to chemicals on people and ecosystems. An email signed by the director and deputy director of the center says, 'Lab research will wind down over the next few weeks as we will no longer have the capability to acquire supplies and materials.' 'We requested for an exemption for journal articles but have not heard if that is approved,' the internal email states. 'ORD is shutting down their laboratory activities. We are unsure if these laboratory activities will continue post-reorganization.' The EPA, however, described this email as 'factually inaccurate.' 'No ORD funding requests to [the Office of Mission Support] have been denied. In fact, we have approved numerous contracts for ongoing ORD research dating back to January,' an agency spokesperson said. 'At ORD and throughout the agency, EPA is continuing research and labs to advance the mission of protecting human health and the environment,' the spokesperson continued. The alleged changes are coming in the wake of a broad reorganization announced by the agency earlier this month, part of sweeping changes enacted by the Trump administration. EPA said that it would be 'shifting its scientific expertise and research efforts' to its program offices, including those that make decisions about whether to protect air and water and how to regulate chemicals. The agency said at the time that this phase in its reorganization does not include layoffs, but that it hoped to eventually get staffing levels down to where they were in the Reagan era — meaning that around 1,000 to 3,000 of the agency's 15,000 positions could ultimately go. Democratic staff of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee reviewed a plan earlier this year indicating that the EPA has considered eliminating ORD entirely. The Trump administration has indicated that it wants to cut jobs at agencies across the board — and that it intends to carry out mass firings across the federal government. On Friday, a federal judge ordered a temporary pause in the administration's plans. An EPA spokesperson declined to say whether its reorganization efforts will be impacted by that order, saying the agency doesn't comment on pending litigation.
The Herald Scotland
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
EPA plans to cut staff to 1980s levels, dissolve research office
"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," Zeldin said, adding the agency will be better positioned to match Trump's goals to "unleash American energy, revitalize domestic manufacturing, cut costs for families and pursue permitting reform." Critics including the Union of Concerned Scientists said the staff cuts and changes in organization of the EPA would force staff members to follow the political program of the president rather than scientific evidence. Zeldin said EPA staffing will fall to a level last seen when President Ronald Reagan occupied the White House in the 1980s, when the agency was led by an administrator who was critical of it. In 1984, the EPA had just over 11,400 staff members compared to more than 15,100 in 2024. The reorganization follows weeks of speculation about staff cuts and Zeldin announcing the cancellation of billions of dollars of EPA grants. More: Trump EPA moves to undo Biden car and truck emission standards Major changes to the agency's structure include shifting scientific research from the Office of Research and Development to different program offices, such as a new office of applied science that would align research with the politically-appointed administrator's policy priorities. Researchers had warned that dissolving the research unit would undermine scientific independence. The EPA also announced it was dissolving the Office of Science and Technology, which helped develop scientific research and guidelines for water policy. More: President Trump signs order to make showers great again Other changes will include creation of an Office of State Air Partnerships within EPA's Office of Air and Radiation that will work with state permitting agencies to resolve permitting concerns and process state plans to meet federal rules. It will also add 130 positions to the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention to work on reviewing a backlog of over 504 new chemicals and over 12,000 pesticides. The 1,500 research and development staff would need to apply for around 400 of the newly created positions in other offices, employees were told in an all-hands meeting at EPA on Friday. It was not clear what would happen to those employees that do not get new positions. The agency extended the deadline by a week, to May 5, for accepting a deferred resignation for employees. The EPA will also elevate issues of cybersecurity, emergency response, and water reuse and conservation, it said. Advocacy group the Union of Concerned Scientists on Friday said that shuttering the EPA's scientific arm that conducts independent research and folding it into policy offices will turn the EPA into a purely political agency. "Dismantling this office, along with the administration's plans to reclassify scientists as political very well turn a premier science agency into a political arm of the president," said Chitra Kumar, managing director of UCS' Climate and Clean Energy Program.
New York Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Out at the E.P.A.: Independent Scientists. In: Approving New Chemicals.
The Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday that it would disperse scientists from its independent research office to other divisions where they among other things will be tasked with approving the use of new chemicals. Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the changes to the E.P.A. in a video, saying the agency was 'shifting its scientific expertise' to focus on issues he described as 'mission essential.' Most of the immediate changes will affect the Office of Research and Development, the E.P.A.'s main research arm that conducts studies on things like the health and environmental risks of 'forever chemicals' in drinking water and the best way to reduce fine particle pollution in the atmosphere. An internal document previously reviewed by The New York Times outlined the Trump administration's recommendation to eliminate that office, with plans to fire as many as 1,155 chemists, biologists, toxicologists and other scientists working on health and environmental research. That didn't happen on Friday, but the agency's new priorities were made clear: One hundred and thirty jobs will be moved to an office at the agency tasked with approving new chemicals for use, Mr. Zeldin said. Chemicals industry groups have long complained of a backlog in approvals, which they say is stifling innovation. At an all-hands staff meeting late Friday, Nancy Beck, a former lobbyist at the American Chemistry Council who now heads the E.P.A.'s chemicals office, told stunned scientists that it was 'a very exciting time.' 'I encourage everyone throughout the agency to apply for these positions,' she said. Trump administration officials indicated that more changes were in store for the research office. Scientists who were on the call said they were left with the impression that if they did not move into one of the new areas, their current jobs might be eliminated. Also on Friday, the E.P.A. extended a deadline for accepting a deferred resignation offer to May 9. 'This feels like the Hunger Games,' said one employee of the research office who spoke on condition of anonymity, for fear of retaliation. Other scientists will move into the administrator's office as part of a new Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions, which Mr. Zeldin said would 'put science at the forefront of the agency's rule making.' Democrats and environmental activists warned the move would politicize scientific research. 'This so-called 'reorganization' is a thinly veiled attempt to extinguish the agency's world-renowned scientific expertise by shuffling scientists to process chemical reviews for industry,' Representative Chellie Pingree, Democrat of Maine, said in a statement. The research office 'is intentionally separate from E.P.A.'s policy offices, ensuring it produces unbiased studies,' said Chitra Kumar, the managing director of the climate program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, an advocacy group. Moving the scientists into policy offices 'could subject those experts to political influence, particularly in this administration,' she said. The changes come amid a major deregulatory drive at the agency. The E.P.A. under Mr. Zeldin is revising or repealing more than 30 regulations aimed at protecting the air, water and climate. The administrator also is overseeing an effort to dismantle the legal underpinning for most climate regulations, known as the endangerment finding.
