EPA weighs elimination of research office

Energy & Environment

The Big Story

EPA weighs elimination of research office

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering the elimination of its science arm, according to documents reviewed by the Democratic staff of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

A plan reviewed by the committee staffers calls for the elimination of the Office of Research and Development as an EPA National Program Office. It called for the elimination of 50 percent to 75 percent of the office’s 1,540 staffers.

This office is the agency’s science branch and provides the underlying research that guides the EPA’s work to protect the public from pollution.

According to The New York Times, which first reported on the plan, it was presented to the White House on Friday for review.

Meanwhile, the EPA said that nothing is final.

“While no decisions have been made yet, we are actively listening to employees at all levels to gather ideas on how to better fulfill agency statutory obligations, increase efficiency, and ensure the EPA is as up-to-date and effective as ever,” EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou said in an emailed statement.

Read more at TheHill.com

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I'm Rachel Frazin — 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:

Trump eyes more coal power

President Trump is hoping to see more of the nation’s energy produced with coal, he said in a social media post Monday night.

Full Story

Interior offers employee buyouts as job cuts loom

The Interior Department will offer buyouts to some employees as it eyes major staffing cuts.

Full Story

Newsom advances cross-border climate, clean energy partnership with Sonora, Mexico

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and his counterpart in Sonora, Mexico, have cemented a bilateral partnership with the aim of bolstering clean energy development and supply chain resilience for both states.

Full Story

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Trump admin reconsiders proposal to protect monarch butterfly

The Trump administration said Tuesday that it is reconsidering adding protections to the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

Full Story

What We're Reading

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

Cadillac expects one of every three vehicle sales to be EVs in 2025 (CNBC)
Trump administration approves loan payment for restarting Palisades nuclear plant (Detroit Free Press)
FEMA blocks reimbursement funds to El Paso charities, demanding immigrant names (El Paso Times)

What Others are Reading

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Watch live: NASA astronauts return to Earth after 9 months on International Space Station

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are expected to return to Earth Tuesday afternoon after more than nine months on the International Space Station. Read more

Judge finds Elon Musk likely acted unconstitutionally in shuttering USAID

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) likely exercised unconstitutional authority “in multiple ways” in dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Read more

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

EPA sets stage for cutting climate and pollution regs

Click for more from The Hill. {beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story EPA sets stage for cutting climate and pollution regs The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ...
The Hill - 6d
EPA to steer environmental enforcement officers away from energy companies

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated this week that it will steer its environmental enforcement officers away from energy companies. The EPA can pursue civil or criminal cases ...
The Hill - 5d
EPA considers eliminating its science arm

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering the elimination of its science arm and firing most of that branch's employees according to documents reviewed by the Democratic staff of the ...
The Hill - 14h
Trump administration may fire more than 1,000 EPA scientists and scrap research office, Democrats say

The potential layoffs listed in documents reviewed by Democrats are part of the White House'’s broader push to shrink the federal government. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to ...
The Guardian - 3h
EPA eliminating environmental justice jobs

The positions will be eliminated "immediately," according to a memo by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.
CBS News - 6d
Interior, Energy must rehire fired workers, judge says

Click for more from The Hill. {beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Interior, Energy must rehire fired workers, judge says The Trump administration must reinstate ...
The Hill - 5d
Breaking down Zeldin's EPA rollbacks that could impact the environment

Lee Zeldin, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, is planning to roll back dozens of regulations meant to protect the environment, arguing that the measures affect American businesses. ...
CBS News - 5d
Trump talks tough on toxics but is rolling back rules

Click for more from The Hill. {beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Trump talks tough on toxics but is rolling back rules President Trump has repeatedly said he’ll ...
The Hill - 1d
EPA Cuts Expose Businesses in Disadvantaged Areas to Pollution Risks

Closure of the EPA’s environmental justice offices end their work protecting communities battling pollution with Trump officials justifying the move.
Inc. - 5d

More from The Hill

Sanders: Roberts knows ‘the danger of a president' who doesn't 'respect the Constitution'

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Tuesday that he believes Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts knows “the danger of a president” who doesn’t “respect the Constitution” after pushback from ...
The Hill - 1h
Voters boo Nebraska Republican over Musk, Ukraine, Trump tariffs during raucous town hall

Rep. Mike Flood’s (R-Neb.) town hall turned raucous Tuesday night as he fielded questions from voters about Elon Musk, President Trump’s tariffs, the White House’s posture towards Ukraine and more, ...
The Hill - 2h
Deadline approaches for claiming $1,400 stimulus check from 2021

The deadline is approaching for the more than 1.1 million Americans who have yet to claim their $1,400 stimulus check from the pandemic-era relief. The deadline to claim a stimulus check is April ...
The Hill - 3h
Officials detain immigration activist who sheltered in church in 2017

Jeanette Vizguerra, a Colorado advocate for immigrants who sheltered in a church for months in 2017, was detained by officials on Monday, local advocates said. The Colorado Immigrant Rights ...
The Hill - 3h
Starliner astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore return to Earth after 9 months in space

Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore made splashdown on Earth on Tuesday after spending nine months in space. A SpaceX crew with replacements for the two astronauts arrived at the ...
The Hill - 4h

More in Politics

Sanders: Roberts knows ‘the danger of a president' who doesn't 'respect the Constitution'

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Tuesday that he believes Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts knows “the danger of a president” who doesn’t “respect the Constitution” after pushback from ...
The Hill - 1h
Voters boo Nebraska Republican over Musk, Ukraine, Trump tariffs during raucous town hall

Rep. Mike Flood’s (R-Neb.) town hall turned raucous Tuesday night as he fielded questions from voters about Elon Musk, President Trump’s tariffs, the White House’s posture towards Ukraine and more, ...
The Hill - 2h
Federal judge blocks Trump transgender military ban

A federal judge has blocked President Trump's executive order which would prevent transgender people from serving in the military.
NBC News - 2h
Family members of migrants deported to El Salvador mega prison speak out

Family members who suspect their loved ones were sent to El Salvador's mega prison fear they are wrongly being accused of being members of a Venezuelan gang. NBC News' Julia Ainsley has the details ...
NBC News - 2h
Deadline approaches for claiming $1,400 stimulus check from 2021

The deadline is approaching for the more than 1.1 million Americans who have yet to claim their $1,400 stimulus check from the pandemic-era relief. The deadline to claim a stimulus check is April ...
The Hill - 3h