EPA Eliminates Research And Development Office, Fires Thousands

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it is eliminating its research and development arm and laying off thousands of employees, Matthew Daly reported for the Associated Press (AP).

A recent Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s plans to significantly downsize the federal workforce.

The agency’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) has long provided the scientific foundation for the EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment.

In May, the agency said it would shift its scientific research efforts to program offices focused on key issues such as air and water.

Last week, the EPA announced the creation of a new Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions, which it claims will allow for greater focus on research and science “more than ever before.”

Once fully implemented, the changes are expected to save the EPA nearly $750 million, officials said.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the restructuring would 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.”

The agency also confirmed it has begun the process of eliminating thousands of jobs, following a recent Supreme Court ruling that cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s plans to significantly downsize the federal workforce—despite warnings about the loss of critical government services and mass layoffs across agencies.