EPA Reassigns Hundreds of DEI and Environmental Justice Employees Amid Major Restructuring

In a significant shake-up at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Trump administration has announced plans to fire or reassign more than 450 employees working on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and environmental justice programs. This move, part of a broader restructuring effort, has sparked heated debate about the future of environmental policy and the protection of vulnerable communities in the United States. The layoffs and reassignments, set to take effect by July 31, 2025, signal a shift in the agency’s priorities under EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, aligning with President Donald Trump’s directives to eliminate DEI initiatives and refocus the EPA on its “core mission” of environmental and human health protection.

A Sweeping Overhaul at the EPA

The EPA’s restructuring, announced in late April 2025, targets employees in the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and various regional offices. According to an EPA spokesperson, approximately 280 staffers will be terminated, while another 175 will be reassigned to other roles within the agency. This “reduction in force” is part of a larger initiative to streamline the agency, cut costs, and align its operations with the administration’s goals of reducing regulatory burdens and promoting energy development.

The decision to dismantle DEI and environmental justice programs comes as no surprise to those following the Trump administration’s agenda. In March 2025, Zeldin announced plans to eliminate these offices, describing environmental justice initiatives as “an excuse to fund left-wing activists.” The administration also canceled over 400 DEI and environmental justice grants, saving an estimated $2 billion, according to posts on X. These grants, many authorized under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, aimed to address pollution in disadvantaged communities and support climate resilience projects.

The EPA’s restructuring also involves dissolving the Office of Research and Development (ORD), the agency’s scientific arm, and reassigning its staff to other divisions. Critics, including the Union of Concerned Scientists, warn that these changes could undermine the EPA’s ability to conduct independent research and protect public health. For example, ORD researchers have historically provided critical data on environmental contaminants like PFAS and ozone, informing regulations that safeguard Americans from pollution.

Impact on Environmental Justice

Environmental justice programs at the EPA have focused on addressing the disproportionate pollution burdens faced by low-income and minority communities. These initiatives, strengthened under the Biden administration, supported projects like water quality testing in Baltimore and energy-efficient heating system upgrades in New Haven, Connecticut. The termination of 781 environmental justice grants, as revealed in a recent EPA court filing, has raised concerns about the loss of critical support for these communities.

Advocacy groups and former EPA officials have voiced alarm over the cuts. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, a former EPA official, told NPR that dismantling the agency’s research and environmental justice functions could put public health at risk by weakening the scientific foundation for environmental regulations. Similarly, the Sierra Club and other organizations argue that the termination of these programs violates the rights of communities that have long fought for cleaner air and water.

In New York, community groups have expressed frustration over the loss of EPA support. The agency’s environmental justice office played a vital role in helping local organizations address pollution in overburdened neighborhoods. “These programs were finally giving us a voice,” said a representative from a New York-based environmental group in an interview with City Limits. “Now, we’re left wondering how we’ll continue this work.”

The Broader Context of Federal Workforce Reductions

The EPA’s layoffs are part of a larger push by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce and eliminate DEI programs across government agencies. A temporary restraining order issued on May 10, 2025, briefly paused some of these cuts, affecting agencies like the National Science Foundation and the Social Security Administration. However, the EPA has continued its restructuring efforts, with Zeldin emphasizing the need to make the agency “operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.”

The administration’s focus on cutting DEI initiatives has been a hallmark of Trump’s second term. In an attempt to identify employees involved in these programs, the EPA set up a tip line for staff to report on colleagues working on DEI or environmental justice initiatives. According to ProPublica, no employees used the tip line, signaling resistance among the workforce to the administration’s plans.

The EPA has also offered voluntary resignations and early retirements to encourage staff departures. More than 8,000 employees—roughly half of the agency’s workforce—attended a webinar in April 2025 to learn about these incentives, reflecting widespread anxiety about job security. Before the reductions began, the EPA employed approximately 15,000 people, but the agency aims to reduce staffing to levels not seen since the 1980s.

Controversy and Legal Challenges

The EPA’s actions have not gone unchallenged. A federal judge’s April 15, 2025, order mandated that the agency unfreeze environmental justice grants, arguing that the termination of these funds violated congressional appropriations under the Inflation Reduction Act. The Trump administration has appealed this ruling, claiming that the grants were already slated for termination. Legal experts suggest that this dispute could lead to a broader battle over the executive branch’s authority to override Congress’s funding decisions.

Environmental advocacy groups, including the Sierra Club and the Union of Concerned Scientists, have filed lawsuits alleging that the EPA’s actions violate the free-speech rights of nonprofits and municipalities that relied on these grants. In South Carolina, a lawsuit claims that the cancellation of environmental justice funding has harmed communities working to address pollution and climate challenges.

Critics argue that the EPA’s restructuring prioritizes political goals over scientific integrity and public health. Joyce Howell, executive vice president of AFGE Council 238, told Reuters, “Decimating our agency and environmental justice workforce goes against our oath to protect human health and to keep our planet healthy and habitable for future generations.”

What’s Next for the EPA?

As the EPA moves forward with its restructuring, the agency faces a delicate balancing act. Administrator Zeldin has emphasized a commitment to the EPA’s core mission, including protecting human health and the environment. However, the dissolution of key offices and the reassignment of staff have raised questions about how the agency will address pressing environmental challenges like air pollution, water contamination, and climate change.

The creation of a new Office of State Air Partnerships within the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation signals an effort to work more closely with state agencies on permitting and regulatory compliance. However, critics worry that this shift could prioritize energy development over environmental protections, aligning with Trump’s executive orders to cut regulatory red tape.

For communities that relied on environmental justice programs, the future remains uncertain. The loss of funding and staff expertise could hinder efforts to address longstanding environmental inequities, particularly in urban and rural areas disproportionately affected by pollution. As one community organizer in Baltimore told Inside Climate News, “We were just starting to make progress. Now, it feels like we’re back to square one.”

Looking Ahead

The EPA’s restructuring reflects a broader shift in federal priorities under the Trump administration, with significant implications for environmental policy and workforce dynamics. While supporters argue that the changes will make the agency more efficient and focused, opponents warn that the loss of DEI and environmental justice programs could undermine decades of progress in protecting vulnerable communities and advancing scientific research.

As the July 31, 2025, deadline for layoffs approaches, the EPA’s actions will likely continue to face scrutiny from advocacy groups, lawmakers, and the courts. The outcome of these legal and political battles could shape the agency’s role in addressing environmental challenges for years to come.

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