'A Wrecking Ball Assault': Leaked Documents Reveal U.S. EPA's Plans to Slash Its Scientific Office

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reportedly planning to dismantle its Office of Research and Development (ORD), potentially leading to the firing of a significant portion of its research staff, according to documents obtained by the Democratic staff of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

“This is a wrecking ball assault on the science that protects the air we breathe and the water we drink from toxic chemicals and pollution,” said Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, the former principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA's ORD, in a statement.

The New York Times first reported the news about the restructuring at the ORD, and the documents obtained by the House committee indicate that 1,155 chemists, biologists, toxicologists, and other scientists - as much as 75% of the office's workforce - could be laid off.

The plan calls for dissolving the research office and “reassigning” remaining staff to other parts of the agency “to provide increased oversight and align with administration priorities.” A portion of the EPA's plans, which were recently presented to the White House for review, were shared with 3E.

“EPA will assess employee duties and skills against statutory responsibilities and administration priorities to ensure implementation of programs to protect human health and the environment … As part of a potential reorganization, EPA will assess these positions and determine the appropriate location within the agency,” the documents say.

When 3E asked about the agency's plans, EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou emphasized that their decision was not final. She also said the EPA is “taking exciting steps as we enter the next phase of organizational improvements.”

“We are actively listening to employees at all levels to gather ideas on how to increase efficiency and ensure the EPA is as up to date and effective as ever,” Vaseliou told 3E.

Response to Announcement About ORD Layoffs

Plans to gut the EPA's scientific research office have caused a public outcry from many former EPA officials, U.S. lawmakers, and environmental groups. According to The New York Times article, more than 40 former EPA officials plan to send a letter to EPA administrator Lee Zeldin to express that reducing the office would prevent the agency from carrying out its mission.

Orme-Zavaleta, who spent 40 years at the EPA, fears that a drastic reduction in the EPA's ORD office could severely impact environmental research and weaken the agency’s ability to protect public health. The ORD historically has played a critical role in providing scientific analysis and research on air pollution, water contamination, and hazardous chemicals.

“If they really implement this plan, it’s going to be a loss of a lot of historical knowledge, a lot of current capability, and a loss of a tremendous research infrastructure that the agency has developed over its 54-year history,” Orme-Zavaleta told 3E.

Orme-Zavaleta added that the proposed plans will discourage the next generation of environmental scientists from entering the field.

“The ORD office is one of the largest at the EPA, and they're in 11 different locations across the country,” Orme-Zavaleta said. “I think it’s going to put a real damper on people going into this field, hindering our ability to address environmental issues.”

Terry Wells, an associate director of Regulatory Research at 3E, said it's too soon to know the impacts of this move at this time.

“It could be that the ORD will be reorganized to cut some programs or realign others to be more efficient and better align with specific programs,” Wells said. “It is hard to say at this early point.”

However, Wells acknowledged the EPA office has faced criticism in recent years, noting that every time they issue a final rule, “everybody sues.”

“Industry sues saying that the EPA is overly conservative or overreaching or not using the best science, and NGOs [non-governmental organizations] sue saying EPA is not conservative enough,” Wells explained.

The ORD was also targeted in April 2023 by Project 2025, a political initiative to reshape the federal government that favors conservative policies. The EPA chapter of the document, which was written by many who now serve in the Trump administration, alleged that the ORD has “been criticized for decades.”

The document further claimed that the EPA was inconsistent in how it assessed risk and “failed to use the best science.”

Project 2025 was published by The Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank, in anticipation of the next Republican president winning the 2024 presidential election. During President Trump's campaign, he distanced himself from the agenda. However, many of his administration's actions since taking office on 20 January 2025 - such as plans to shut down the EPA's environmental justice offices - align with Project 2025.

———–

Editor's Note: 3E is expanding news coverage to provide customers with insights into topics that enable a safer, more sustainable world by protecting people, safeguarding products, and helping businesses grow. Deep Dive articles, produced by reporters, feature interviews with subject matter experts and influencers as well as exclusive analysis provided by 3E researchers and consultants.