Latest news with #USEnvironmentalProtectionAgency
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
EPA shutters research arm, slashes thousands of jobs in massive restructuring
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday unveiled a sweeping overhaul that will dismantle its Office of Research and Development, slash over 3,700 jobs, and redistribute scientific roles across the it a strategic shift to focus on 'applied science,' the EPA said it will establish a new Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions aimed at enhancing research efforts tied directly to program needs, including air and water restructuring — part of a broader federal workforce downsizing now cleared by the Supreme Court — will reduce EPA staffing by nearly 23%, bringing the total workforce down to 12,448 employees. The move is expected to save nearly $750 million once fully implemented, according to the agency. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the shake-up, saying it would position the agency to better deliver on its mission while contributing to what he called 'the Great American Comeback.''This reduction in force will ensure we can better fulfill that mission while being responsible stewards of your hard-earned tax dollars,' Zeldin critics argue the EPA is gutting the very scientific backbone that enables it to assess and respond to threats to public health and the environment.'The research and development office is the heart and brain of the EPA,' said Justin Chen, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, which represents EPA workers. 'Without it, we don't have the means to assess impacts upon human health and the environment. Its destruction will devastate public health in our country.'The research office — EPA's main scientific body — currently supports 1,540 positions across 10 national facilities, from Florida and North Carolina to Oregon. Up to 1,155 scientists, including chemists, biologists, and toxicologists, are expected to be laid assurances from EPA that 'all laboratory functions' will continue under the new structure, critics remain announcement follows the administrative suspension of 139 EPA employees who signed a 'declaration of dissent' challenging the Trump administration's environmental policies. The agency accused them of 'unlawfully undermining' the president's agenda, a rare and public internal their June 30 letter, dissenting employees wrote: 'The EPA is no longer living up to its mission to protect human health and the environment.'Meanwhile, the agency is also offering a third round of deferred resignations to eligible employees, including those within the research division. The application period for voluntary departures remains open through July 25, spokeswoman Molly Vaseliou confirmed.- EndsWith inputs from Associated Press
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Connecticut leaders address use of controversial chemical diquat against hydrilla
DEEP RIVER, Conn. (WTNH) — Connecticut leaders are addressing concerns about the use of the controversial chemical diquat to combat hydrilla. Diquat dibromide is approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency for aquatic use, but is currently banned in the European Union. Conversation has stirred online — including stemming from a petition with close to 20,000 signatures — pointing to concerns over the chemical's use in state waterways. Known as a severe irritant, some studies have shown it could also pose harm to aquatic life. 'The evidence to date shows that any negative effects on aquatic life are short term and reversible. The impacts of hydrilla are not,' Alicea Charamut of the Rivers Alliance of Connecticut said Friday. Through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, plans are in place to treat waterways via sub-surface injection into limited ponds, coves and marinas state-wide. If left unchecked, experts say the overgrowth of hydrilla could lead to depleted oxygen levels in waterways, affecting local wildlife and fauna. 'Hydrilla is really the greater evil,' Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Mason Trumble said, 'It can spread really quickly.' State leaders say the decision to use the herbicide was not made lightly. Greg Bugbee of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, who worked closely with the Army Corps of Engineers, explained Friday that multiple test sites, public hearings and workshops over the span of three years were brought into consideration. 'They wanted to test all options that they knew could possibly work,' Bugbee said. According to a public notice sent by the Army Corps of Engineers, treatment will be happening at these locations: Chester Creek in Chester Deep River in Deep River Hamburg Cove in Lyme Joshua Creek in Lyme Mattabesset River in Middletown Parker's Point in Chester an expanded Portland Boat Works in Portland Post and Pratt Coves in Deep River Salmon River in East Haddam Selden Creek in Lyme Lake Pocotopaug in East Hampton Pameacha Pond in Middletown Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
US EPA cuts 23% of workforce in Trump-era downsizing move
WASHINGTON: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed plans to cut over 3,700 jobs, shrinking its workforce by nearly 23% as part of broader government reductions under President Donald Trump's second term. The agency, responsible for safeguarding air, land, and water quality, previously employed 16,155 workers in January. The latest round of cuts under the 'Deferred Resignation Program' will reduce staffing to 12,448. The reductions include employees who accepted deferred resignation—a strategy championed by former Trump administration adviser Elon Musk—along with early retirees and layoffs. '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,' said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. The agency estimates the cuts will save $748.8 million. The White House aims to reduce the EPA's budget by 54%, lowering it to $4.2 billion for Fiscal Year 2026. The latest staffing figures fall below the 12,856 full-time positions proposed in the president's budget. Additionally, the EPA's scientific research division, the Office of Research and Development, will be replaced by a smaller Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions. The new office will focus on clearing chemical and pesticide review backlogs while tackling 'forever chemicals' (PFAS). Zeldin has spearheaded Trump's deregulation agenda, rolling back pollution protections to boost fossil fuel industries—a move criticized by scientists and environmental groups. Earlier this month, the EPA suspended 139 employees after they signed an open letter condemning Zeldin's policies as harmful to public health and the environment. - AFP
Business Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
US environment agency axes nearly a quarter of workforce
[WASHINGTON] The US Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday it was moving ahead with plans to axe its workforce by more than 3,700 employees, as part of sweeping government cuts under President Donald Trump's second term. 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
Techday NZ
7 days ago
- Science
- Techday NZ
Gene study could cut chemical use by 80% in NZ wine sector
Researchers at Lincoln University are conducting a genomic study aimed at reducing chemical use in New Zealand's agriculture and viticulture industries by identifying naturally disease-resistant grapevines through genome sequencing. The study, which utilises the MGI DNBSEQ-G400 genome sequencer, has made it possible for scientists to carry out large-scale testing of grapevines at a considerably lower cost and in significantly less time compared to conventional methods. This approach marks the first use of this sequencing platform for wine-related research in New Zealand. New Zealand's wine industry is valued at USD $2.1 billion in export revenue annually, making it the country's sixth-largest export industry and a significant employer across main winegrowing regions. However, the sector faces increasing challenges related to sustainability and environmental impact, particularly concerning the extensive use of chemical sprays to combat disease. According to statistics cited in the study, New Zealand farmers currently use about 3,400 tonnes of pesticides each year. Notably, under US Environmental Protection Agency classifications, a substantial proportion of these chemicals are suspected carcinogens - 5% of herbicides, 60% of fungicides, 8% of insecticides, and 72% of plant growth regulators. Early results from the genome sequencing project suggest that chemical spray use could potentially be reduced by as much as 80%. For producers contending with the effects of climate change and mounting scrutiny over chemical inputs, this could represent significant cost savings and a move towards more sustainable practices. The research is focused on detecting natural genetic traits that confer disease resistance in grapevines. With this technology, scientists are now able to test in excess of 50,000 grapevines annually, an increase from the hundreds typically screened using previous methods. "The wine industry is a major contributor to the New Zealand economy, but it's also facing huge challenges around sustainability. Vineyards are heavily reliant on chemicals to fight fungal disease and that can come at a cost to the soil microbiome, long-term crop health and the environment. With this technology, we're now able to scale up our studies dramatically and look for grape varieties that are naturally resistant to disease. You're never going to get to zero but by identifying and cultivating naturally disease-resistant vines, and by targeting interventions only where they're truly needed, we can massively reduce chemical input. Even removing a single spray late in the season has multiple benefits; it lowers costs, reduces residue risks in wine and lessens the environmental burden." In the past, researchers were limited to sampling only a few hundred vines per year. The new sequencing system has increased lab capacity 100-fold, with processing times and costs both reduced due to the local availability of the advanced technology. The genomic platform enables real-time detection and monitoring of diseases such as powdery mildew and mealy bug. Associate Professor Winefield explained the significance for growers: "What this unlocks is a move from broad-spectrum, scheduled spraying to data-driven, localised treatment. That means fewer chemicals in the environment, lower resistance pressure on pests and pathogens and a better product at the end of the day, whether that's milk, grapes or meat." Lincoln University's lab is currently gathering genetic data from a range of grape and hop varieties to evaluate responses to various stresses and diseases. Winefield highlighted that the research does not constitute genetic modification: "We're looking for the vines that can handle more with less spray, less water and fewer inputs. Genomics allows us to do that with unprecedented precision. What we're doing isn't genetic modification it's about identifying and working with natural variation to breed better and more resilient plants." The partnership includes MGI Australia, whose director Dr. Bicheng Yang commented on the broader implications: "This is a powerful example of how cutting-edge genomics can support the long-term sustainability of key industries. By helping researchers understand the genetic factors that improve disease resistance and fruit quality, we're enabling a future where viticulture relies less on chemicals and more on the natural resilience of the plant." The team at Lincoln University is now working to establish a commercial venture that would make genomic testing accessible to individual farmers and growers across viticulture, horticulture, and dairy sectors. The aim is to provide affordable real-time genomic insights to help detect disease early, lower input costs, and reduce environmental impacts. Winefield believes the project will contribute not just to viticulture but to a wider range of crop industries, serving as a model that could be replicated internationally. He outlined the future vision: "Our goal is to bring the cost of genomic tests down to a level where individual growers and farmers can routinely use them to make better, more targeted decisions. This is about taking world-class science out of the lab and into the field - and transforming how primary industries manage disease and productivity at the grassroots level." "Ultimately, this kind of science supports the future of New Zealand's primary industries, higher-value, lower-impact and globally competitive." The planned venture intends to process over one million samples per year initially, potentially expanding to 10 million samples annually within five years. The variability and unpredictability of climate conditions in New Zealand are providing a unique testing environment for these new techniques. Winefield summarised the national potential for this infrastructure: "We're not just building a lab, we're creating a national infrastructure for precision agriculture, one that allows growers and vets to test for multiple pathogens or productivity issues at once, at a cost that's viable for everyday use."
