The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it is cutting nearly a quarter of its staff as part of massive budget reductions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration, known for its skepticism towards climate change.
Planned several months ago, these drastic cuts are causing concern among environmentalists, who fear the negative impact in a country plagued by air pollution and frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by global warming.
Responsible for ensuring clean air, land, and water, EPA had 16,155 employees in January when Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term. However, as part of its workforce reduction plan, this number will decrease to 12,448, a 22.9% decrease, the agency announced.
"This staff reduction will allow us to better fulfill our mission, while responsibly managing the hard-earned money from your taxes," EPA chief Lee Zeldin, a close associate of Donald Trump, said in a statement.
Since his return to power, Donald Trump, a notorious climate skeptic, has initiated a complete turnaround regarding climate and environmental protection. At his behest, Lee Zeldin has launched a series of initiatives to relax regulations on a range of persistent pollutants (PFAS) and to eliminate restrictions on vehicle emissions.
According to EPA, the announced cuts will result in savings of nearly $750 million, as the government seeks to cut the agency's budget by over 50%.
EPA states that it will make efforts to eliminate delays in reviewing hundreds of chemicals and thousands of pesticides, while also developing a new strategy for PFAS.
In early July, EPA announced the forced dismissal of 139 employees who had signed an open letter accusing the Trump administration of endangering the public "for the benefit of polluters."