EPA tells 1,000 employees they could be fired ‘immediately’

Energy & Environment

The Big Story

EPA tells 1,000 employees they could be fired ‘immediately’

More than 1,000 employees at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were notified last week that they may be subject to immediate firing, according to an email obtained by The Hill.

The email, sent Wednesday by EPA mission support official Kimberly Patrick, notifies impacted employees that they are “likely on a probationary/trial period.”

“As a probationary/trial period employee, the agency has the right to immediately terminate you,” the email says.

Nicole Cantello, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 704, which represents EPA employees in the Midwest, said that more than 1,000 employees nationwide received the email.

Cantello said she fears that this is a “prelude” for firing newer workers who have less than a year of federal service.

“We’re really concerned, deeply concerned, that the next step will be removing these employees,” she said.

The email comes after about 2 million federal employees received offers for a “buyout” to leave government work.

Cantello said she feared that between the buyout and the potential dismissal of newer staffers, the agency could lose one-tenth of its personnel, which would “decimate the agency.”

“These people work on things like getting the lead out of pipes or enforcing environmental laws like the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. They work on things like Brownfields, which turn contaminated land into usable land. They work on Superfund sites, which cleans up toxic pollution,” she said.

Read more at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Essential Reads

How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:

Tesla’s car registrations plunged 12 percent in California last year: Report

Registration of Tesla’s electric vehicles (EVs) in California plummeted by 11.6 percent in 2024, a new report has found.

Full Story

Court restores protections for critically endangered whales off New England

A Massachusetts court on Monday restored federal protections for endangered whales off New England against entanglement in fishing equipment, overruling a lower court that struck down the federal rule.

Full Story

Wealth divide will steepen as climate change spikes insurance costs, report finds

Climbing temperatures are sharpening economic divides in American communities, a new report has found.

Full Story

Republicans from disaster-prone areas back Trump’s push to overhaul FEMA

Republican lawmakers, including those from disaster-prone areas, are backing President Trump’s calls to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Full Story

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Agriculture Department staff told to ‘unpublish’ pages focused on climate change

Public affairs personnel at the Agriculture Department were told to “unpublish” pages focused on climate change, according to guidelines obtained by The Hill.

Full Story

What We're Reading

News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:

OPEC drops US Energy Information Administration as data monitor (The Financial Times)
Climate Change to Wipe Away $1.5 Trillion in U.S. Home Values, Study Says (The Wall Street Journal)
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration gives up on new offshore wind (Politico)

On Tap

Upcoming news themes and events we're watching:

The Senate is slated to vote Monday night on whether to confirm Chris Wright as energy secretary. He is widely expected to be approved.

What Others are Reading

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Democrats blocked from entering USAID headquarters

A group of Senate and House Democrats were blocked from entering the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on Monday. Read more

Watch: Democratic senators ‘sound alarm’ over Musk, DOGE

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), along with fellow Democratic Sens. Patty Murray (Wash.), Ron Wyden (Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), offered warnings about the reported efforts by Elon Musk and his allies at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access the federal government’s payment system, among other actions, in a press conference Monday afternoon. Read more

Opinions in The Hill

Op-eds related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill:

You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!

Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage.

Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩

Topics

More than 1,000 EPA employees are told they could be dismissed immediately

The Trump administration notified more than 1,000 Environmental Protection Agency workers that they could be dismissed because they are "probationary/ trial period employees."
NBC News - 2h
EPA tells 1,000 employees they could be fired 'immediately'

More than 1,000 employees at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were notified last week that they may be subject to immediate firing, according to an email obtained by The Hill. The email, ...
The Hill - 6h
Over 1,000 EPA Workers on Climate Change and More Could Be Fired ‘Immediately’

A spokeswoman for Lee Zeldin, the new head of the agency, said the goal was to create an “effective and efficient” federal work force.
The New York Times - 9h
Marco Rubio Tells Panama’s Leader ‘Immediate Changes’ Are Needed

The secretary of state said the United States could take steps to “protect its rights.” Panama’s leader said he was sure that President Trump wouldn’t seize the canal.
The New York Times - 10h
More than 1,100 EPA employees warned of immediate termination

"It's bad. I've been with the agency for over 33 years and I've never seen anything like this," said Marie Owens-Powell, president of the union that represents more than 8,500 EPA employees.
CBS News - 2d
Trump tells federal employees, 'You're fired!' But wait — not so fast.

The federal civil service system is designed to ensure merit-based hiring and firing, and protects employees from arbitrary or unjust terminations, with federal employees overseeing essential ...
The Hill - Jan. 27
Trump’s RTO Plans Could Slash Federal Employee Head Count

The threat of DOGE-led job cuts may get further backing as the president vows to require government staffers to work in person five days a week.
Inc. - Jan. 20
Could a former Patriots stadium employee emerge as OC candidate?

Might the Patriots consider Charles London as an offensive coordinator candidate? Phil Perry reveals London's interesting connection to New England.
Yahoo Sports - Jan. 17
‘Virtual employees’ could join workforce as soon as this year, OpenAI boss says

Sam Altman says tools that carry out jobs autonomously, known as AI agents, could transform business output. Virtual employees could join workforces this year and transform how companies work, ...
The Guardian - Jan. 6

More from The Hill

Peter Navarro accuses tariff critics of ‘dishonoring’ those who have died from fentanyl overdose

Peter Navarro, a senior trade aide to President Trump, said those who are critical of the president’s tariffs are “dishonoring” the people who have died from fentanyl overdose. Navarro joined Fox ...
The Hill - 38m
Trump's new TikTok plan

Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story Trump floats new way to buy TikTok, save app from ban President Trump signed an executive order Monday ...
The Hill - 45m
Hegseth vows to surge manpower, resources to US southern border

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Hegseth vows to surge manpower, resources to southern border ...
The Hill - 58m
Duffy tells DOT to prioritize areas with high birth rates

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a memo told the Department of Transportation (DOT) to prioritize communities that have higher birth and marriage rates. "To the maximum extent permitted by ...
The Hill - 1h
$Senate confirms fracking CEO Chris Wright to lead Energy Department$
Senate confirms fracking CEO Chris Wright to lead Energy Department

The Senate on Monday confirmed Chris Wright, the CEO of fracking company Liberty Energy, to lead the Energy Department. The vote was 59-38. Democrat Sens. Michael Bennet (Colo.), Ruben Gallego ...
The Hill - 1h

More in Politics

Peter Navarro accuses tariff critics of ‘dishonoring’ those who have died from fentanyl overdose

Peter Navarro, a senior trade aide to President Trump, said those who are critical of the president’s tariffs are “dishonoring” the people who have died from fentanyl overdose. Navarro joined Fox ...
The Hill - 38m
Trump's new TikTok plan

Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story Trump floats new way to buy TikTok, save app from ban President Trump signed an executive order Monday ...
The Hill - 45m
Hegseth vows to surge manpower, resources to US southern border

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Hegseth vows to surge manpower, resources to southern border ...
The Hill - 58m
Trump defends Musk's role as government programs are targeted

President Trump defended Elon Musk's work in targeting government agencies and programs for cutbacks, including USAID. The White House says Musk is designated a "special government employee." NBC ...
NBC News - 1h
Hegseth meets with troops at Southern border in New Mexico

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with U.S. troops along the Southern border in New Mexico. The deployment of additional troops to the border was part of President Trump's crackdown on ...
NBC News - 1h