EPA Puts 168 Environmental Justice Staff on Leave: What This Means for Future Initiatives

The Trump administration has made significant moves to change how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) addresses pollution in marginalized communities. Recently, the EPA placed 168 employees, who were focused on environmental justice, on administrative leave.

This environmental justice initiative was launched by the Biden administration in 2022. It aimed to direct billions of dollars in grants to low-income neighborhoods and communities of color that have historically dealt with environmental challenges.

Now, the future of this initiative is uncertain. An EPA spokesperson, Molly Vaseliou, explained that the agency is following President Trump’s executive order aimed at ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. As part of this process, staff determined that the work of the 168 employees was not directly related to the EPA’s main responsibilities or the grant work.

Vaseliou stated, “EPA is in the process of evaluating new structure and organization to ensure we are meeting our mission of protecting human health and the environment for all Americans.” This shift is linked to Trump’s broader effort to abolish DEI initiatives across the federal government.

Last month, guidance from the Office of Personnel Management suggested that agencies should eliminate DEI and environmental justice offices within 60 days. This could include layoffs for those involved in related projects.

Over 200 people work on environmental justice programs within the EPA, both at headquarters in Washington and across its regional offices. These programs are also responsible for distributing $3 billion in grants through the Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at supporting communities affected by environmental issues.