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Concerns Rise Among EPA Employees Amid Job Uncertainty
On Wednesday, employees of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were alerted that their job security may be at risk. During an all-staff meeting, senior leadership informed workers that an executive order from President Trump titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” has led to the dissolution of the agency’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office, which could soon also impact the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights.
Since the order’s implementation on January 22, employees from the DEI office have been placed on administrative leave. Staff members within the Office of Environmental Justice are bracing for similar notifications, with some expecting to receive formal communication as soon as Thursday. However, the specifics concerning whether these employees will also face administrative leave or immediate termination remain unclear.
The Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights plays a crucial role in aiding the EPA’s commitment to protecting vulnerable communities adversely impacted by environmental hazards. Its mandate includes ensuring equitable access to a safe environment and enforcing civil rights in the context of environmental issues.
Matthew Tejada, who previously served as the deputy assistant administrator at the Office of Environmental Justice for over ten years, expressed concerns about employee morale. “There were a lot of rumors all day,” he noted. “The staff is freaked out and anxious.”
A current employee from the environmental justice sector, speaking on condition of anonymity, described a lengthy internal call held by senior leadership to unpack the implications of the executive order. Despite the comprehensive discussion, staff members found that concrete details were scant and would not be available until official notice is provided.
In addition to the uncertainty about their roles, employees received communication from the Office of Personnel Management, which included a “Fork in the Road” email offering deferred resignations to employees who opted to leave their positions by February 6. However, some employees reported fears of immediate termination due to their probationary status, stemming from positions created under the Inflation Reduction Act, which entails a two-year probation period. This precarious situation raises questions about eligibility for administrative leave versus possible dismissal.
Approximately 250 individuals are employed in the Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights office, located at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., as well as across ten regional offices nationwide. This news has been particularly troubling for Tejada, who had worked closely with these staff members, stating, “I hired all of them.” Now serving as the senior vice president for environmental health at the Natural Resources Defense Council, Tejada warned that closing the environmental justice office could lead to increased pollution exposure for communities that have historically suffered from environmental degradation. “Shuttering the environmental justice office will mean more toxic contaminants, dangerous air, and unsafe water in communities across the nation that have been most harmed by pollution in the past,” he cautioned.
As the situation develops, observations from both current and former employees reflect a growing atmosphere of uncertainty and concern within the agency.
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