A leading Congressional Democrat and the Sierra Club are sharply criticizing EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin after 139 employees who signed a letter opposing agency policies were suspended.
The letter or so-called "Declaration of Dissent," posted by Stand Up For Science on Monday, anonymous employees of the EPA and notable scientists, including Nobel laureates, opposes current administration policies and accuses the EPA and Trump administration of "harmful deregulation" and "disregard for scientific expertise."
The letter outlines five major concerns: sidelining scientific consensus to favor polluters, dismantling the Office of Research and Development, eroding trust in vulnerable communities, fostering a culture of fear among staff, and compromising public safety. They were particularly concerned about the department's position on green energy policies and charged the department with moving in a direction that was "scientifically unsound."
Not long after the letter was made public, the EPA placed 139 employees who could be identified on short-term leave, according to CBS.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the ranking member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, responded by accusing the Trump administration and EPA of taking "illegal policy positions."
The California Democrat said the employees had a right to openly criticize the government. "There is nothing this Administration won"t stoop to in their objective to prioritize polluters over public health."
Sierra Club Climate Policy Director Patrick Drupp issued a statement demanding the employees be returned to work. "These employees saw the clear threat that Zeldin and Trump pose as they take a sledgehammer to bedrock environmental laws and endanger the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans."
An EPA spokesperson characterized the situation by saying the EPA has a "zero-tolerance policy for career bureaucrats unlawfully undermining, sabotaging and undercutting the administration's agenda as voted for by the great people of this country last November," according to CBS.
Jim Mishler ✉
Jim Mishler, a seasoned reporter, anchor and news director, has decades of experience covering crime, politics and environmental issues.
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