Employees from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights have been informed that they will be placed on paid administrative leave. This decision aligns with the Trump administration’s order to eliminate many offices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Over 160 staff members in the environmental justice sector nationwide are affected. Internal communications confirm this situation, with acknowledgments from employees and union representatives.
Acting Assistant Administrator Theresa Segovia expressed concern during an employee call, referring to it as a dreaded situation. She stated that those employees who dedicated 50% or more of their time to environmental justice work would receive official notification about their leave, which comes with full benefits.
The EPA has around 200 employees working in this area alone. Recently, a federal judge paused the administration’s buyout offers for some agency roles. Despite this, Segovia indicated that employees would still have the option to resign under the current offers, although new guidance was pending.
In a rapidly shifting environment, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management quickly announced compliance with the judge’s decision shortly after Segovia’s call with staff. There had been a growing expectation among employees that notices for paid leave would soon arrive.
At a recent all-staff meeting, agency leaders informed employees of their intention to implement the Trump administration’s executive order, which calls for the end of environmental justice offices. This directive mirrors previous actions seen in the DEI office, where staff were also placed on paid leave.
Nicole Cantello, president of the AFGE local 704 union, noted that if over 100 employees were placed on leave, it would be unprecedented in the agency’s history. There has been a significant divide among employees regarding the classification of environmental justice programs as DEI initiatives. Many feel these programs are vital for protecting underserved communities from negative health and environmental effects caused by pollution and climate change.
This division was also responsible for executing the Biden administration’s Justice 40 initiative, aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of federal funding to disadvantaged communities for climate-related projects.
