The Environmental Protection Agency's administrator, Lee Zeldin, announced on Tuesday that remote work at the agency is coming to an end, aligning with the broader effort by the Trump administration to bring federal employees back to their offices.
In a video message posted to his X account, Zeldin acknowledged the dedication of employees who have been working in person but emphasized that it was now time for all of the agency's workers to return to the office.
"To the dedicated employees who have been showing up to the office every day, thank you," he said. "Your commitment to our mission does not go unnoticed.
"To all the other great members of the team, it's time to return to the office, to partner, collaborate, and to deliver."
Zeldin highlighted that occupancy at EPA headquarters on Mondays and Fridays has remained in the single digits for over a year.
He noted that even on the agency's highest-attended day, just over a third of employees were present.
Zeldin described the EPA's Washington, D.C., headquarters — spanning two city blocks across five buildings — as "too vacant," with empty desks and cubicles.
"The American people rely on every single one of us to protect their access to clean air, land, and water," he said. "Our mission of protecting human health and the environment is far too important for any of us to ever come up short."
Nick Koutsobinas ✉
Nick Koutsobinas, a Newsmax writer, has years of news reporting experience. A graduate from Missouri State University’s philosophy program, he focuses on exposing corruption and censorship.
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