President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, is planning to reduce the agency’s workforce by 65 per cent, a revelation that took EPA staff by surprise, reports Reuters.
Trump disclosed the potential reduction during the first meeting of his cabinet, where Elon Musk vowed to take swift action in cutting federal spending.
"I spoke with Lee Zeldin, and he thinks he's going to be cutting 65 or so percent of the people from environmental [sic]," Trump said. "And we're going to speed up the process too at the same time."
The EPA has not confirmed the specific workforce reduction figure mentioned by Trump but emphasized its focus on decreasing federal grants, reassessing its real estate footprint, and implementing personnel restructuring.
“President Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin are in lock step in creating a more efficient and effective federal government," an EPA spokesperson stated.
The mention of a 65 per cent reduction caught many EPA employees off guard, with union leaders indicating they had not received prior notice or details regarding the proposed cuts
The mention of a 65 per cent reduction caught many EPA employees off guard, with union leaders indicating they had not received prior notice or details regarding the proposed cuts.
"Mr. Zeldin stated during his confirmation testimony that he pledged 'to enthusiastically uphold the EPA’s mission…foster a collaborative culture within the agency, supporting career staff who have dedicated themselves to this mission,'" said Joyce Howell, executive vice president of AFGE Council 238, which represents EPA employees.
"So which is it? Upholding the EPA mission or imposing a reduction in force that makes upholding the EPA mission an impossibility?" she added.
So far, the EPA has terminated nearly 400 probationary employees and placed approximately 200 employees on leave, primarily those working on environmental justice initiatives.
A memo released before the cabinet meeting called for a "significant reduction" in the workforce but did not specify a target beyond the 100,000 civilian federal employees—out of the nation's 2.3 million—who have already accepted buyouts or been dismissed.
The sweeping government restructuring effort has led to more than 20,000 layoffs, a freeze on foreign aid, and disruptions in construction projects and scientific research. However, spending levels have remained unchanged thus far.
