The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has lost more than 700 career staffers since January, with further reductions expected under President Trump’s budget plan to slash science and environmental programs.
Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.
In short:
- The EPA confirmed it has lost 733 employees since the beginning of 2025, including 280 workers tied to environmental justice initiatives.
- President Trump’s proposed 2026 budget includes a 35% payroll cut for staff working on science and environmental policy.
- A separate analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity suggests the EPA has lost more than 1,500 employees over the past year.
Key quote:
“The EPA can’t protect American health while losing 10% of its staff in a matter of months.”
— Ivan Ditmars, associate attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity
Why this matters:
The EPA plays a central role in monitoring air and water quality, enforcing pollution limits, and researching environmental health threats. A sharp drop in staff — especially scientists and regulators — can mean fewer inspections, delayed responses to contamination, and weakened oversight of polluting industries. As the federal government scales back, watchdog groups warn that polluters may face fewer consequences, and public health could suffer. Respiratory conditions like asthma, already exacerbated by dirty air, are expected to increase, particularly among children. And without agency scientists analyzing exposure data or enforcing chemical safety, the risks of toxic contamination — from lead to industrial runoff — rise.
Learn more: Budget plan slashes science and staffing at EPA, NOAA, and Park Service
