In an effort to clean up Washington, the Trump administration plans to place more than 100 employees from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Justice and Civil Rights Office on leave, following President Trump’s directive to reduce government involvement in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, according to new reports.
Sources confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that the changes, which could take effect as early as Thursday, are part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to reduce spending and refocus government priorities.
This includes scaling back the “environmental justice” programs that were expanded under the Biden administration, as well as similar reductions in staff at the Department of Justice (DOJ), according to Reuters.
The EPA employees affected work within the agency’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, which aims to integrate civil rights and equity into environmental policymaking, The Post Millennial reports.
This division, which had a staff of around 200 employees under the Biden administration, was bolstered by billions of dollars from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
The IRA allocated funds to address climate change and supported programs aimed at mitigating pollution in lower-income and minority communities, according to TPM.
Republicans have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the “environmental justice” programs, questioning their transparency and whether they truly benefit the communities they are designed to serve. Critics argue that the programs are poorly defined and may not have tangible results for the people in need.
Michelle Roos, the executive director of the Environmental Protection Network, has strongly criticized the cuts, calling them a “witch hunt.” She argued that these reductions would result in more harm to vulnerable communities, potentially denying them access to cleaner air and water.
EPA spokespersons have stated that the agency is working diligently to implement Trump’s executive orders related to DEI programs.
At the same time, the DOJ is also experiencing cuts to its environmental justice office. Sources told Reuters that approximately 20 employees from the DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division are affected by a “reduction in force.”
This department handles a range of responsibilities, including issuing policy advice, reviewing regulations and fulfilling public records requests.
Newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo on Wednesday announcing that the DOJ would be rescinding Biden-era environmental justice directives.
Bondi quoted the president, saying, “Climate extremism has exploded inflation and overburdened businesses with regulation.”
Prior to Bondi’s memo, four employees working on environmental justice issues had already been placed on administrative leave.
As of now, the affected EPA employees continue to receive their salaries and benefits while on administrative leave. However, under federal regulations, employees can only remain on leave for up to 10 days per calendar year, after which their future status remains unclear, according to TPM.
The planned staff reductions are part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to eliminate or reduce the reach of DEI initiatives and “environmental justice” programs, which have come under increasing scrutiny from conservative lawmakers.
