Federal workers at science and environmental agencies are bracing for large-scale job cuts after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a legal block on President Trump’s plans to shrink the federal workforce.
Robin Bravender reports for E&E News.
In short:
- The Supreme Court ended an injunction that had paused the Trump administration’s proposed layoffs and restructuring plans for over a dozen federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, and Interior Department.
- Agencies had already drafted layoff plans and are expected to implement them quickly, with federal workers reporting confusion, anxiety, and fear about when and how cuts will take place.
- Critics argue that Trump bypassed congressional authority by initiating reorganization unilaterally; Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote a dissent warning of “harmful upheaval” and questioned the legality of the administration’s approach.
Key quote:
“We’re going to be operating immediately. This is a priority for the administration. You don’t want an unnecessary bureaucracy.”
— Senior White House official
Why this matters:
Slashing the federal workforce at science, energy, and environmental agencies could reshape how the United States approaches health and environmental protection. The EPA and Department of Energy, for example, oversee pollution standards, climate monitoring, toxic chemical reviews, and clean energy programs. A loss of expertise or capacity in these agencies may slow their response to environmental disasters, weaken enforcement of public health safeguards, and undercut research on climate change and pollution. These agencies also play key roles in community resilience and disaster preparedness.
Read more: EPA staff accuse Trump administration of sidelining science
