EPA Dismisses Five Employees for Signing Dissent Letter

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has terminated five employees who signed a June declaration criticizing the Trump administration’s rollback of pollution, climate, and health safety regulations. This decision, confirmed in a statement released on Friday, follows a series of investigations into the employees’ involvement in the dissent letter. Four additional staff members received removal notices.

The June “Declaration of Dissent” included signatures from hundreds of EPA employees, expressing concerns that the administration was undermining the agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment. The letter pointed to instances where the agency ignored scientific evidence, allegedly to benefit polluters, and dismantled programs aimed at supporting disadvantaged communities.

Most employees chose to sign the declaration anonymously due to fears of retaliation, which have now become a reality with the recent firings. The individuals affected had been on paid leave following the letter’s release, with their status extended multiple times as the investigations continued. The agency moved to revoke employee bargaining and grievance rights earlier in August, raising further concerns among staff about potential repercussions.

Michael Pasqua, an EPA employee responsible for managing drinking water safety in Wisconsin, stated, “The Administration is blatantly lying about the sourced facts of our dissent letter, and are now blatantly retaliating and infringing on our constitutional rights.” His comments reflect a growing sentiment among EPA staff regarding the agency’s treatment of dissenters.

During the first Trump administration, significant environmental regulations were rolled back under the leadership of Scott Pruitt, who served as EPA administrator from February 2017 to July 2018. The administration’s current efforts have included cuts to federal solar and wind initiatives as well as additional environmental regulations.

In July 2023, the administration attempted to revoke the “endangerment” finding, which is critical for U.S. climate regulation following a Supreme Court decision in 2007. This move, along with others affecting various scientific agencies, has triggered a wave of dissent among federal employees. Hundreds from the EPA, NASA, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation have signed public letters expressing their concerns.

In February 2023, President Trump mistakenly claimed during a cabinet meeting that the EPA would cut 65 percent of its workforce, later corrected to clarify that the cuts would apply to spending rather than staff. This miscommunication has contributed to an atmosphere of uncertainty within the agency.

Recently, employees from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a “Katrina Declaration” to Congress, highlighting spending restrictions, cuts to disaster prevention programs, and alleged censorship of climate science. They voiced fears that these actions could lead to disasters similar to Hurricane Katrina, which resulted in nearly 1,900 fatalities in 2005. Following this declaration, FEMA placed 36 non-anonymous signatories on administrative leave, echoing the actions taken by the EPA.

Colette Delawalla, a representative from the advocacy group Stand Up for Science, criticized the EPA’s actions, stating, “This is a betrayal of our nation’s most dedicated members of society—we all want clear air and water for ourselves and our families.” She emphasized that whistleblowing is protected by law and asserted that those who signed the dissent letter have acted with integrity.

As the situation unfolds, it raises significant questions about the future of scientific integrity and employee rights within the EPA and other federal agencies. The actions taken against these employees are likely to have lasting implications for the agency’s relationship with its workforce and the public’s trust in its mission.