EPA faces turmoil as Zeldin announces major reorganization

In March 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undertook a significant reorganization amid President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts to environmental programs in the United States. Lee Zeldin, the EPA Administrator, detailed a strategy to restructure the agency, aiming to cut costs by shifting scientific expertise and research efforts into program offices that address high-priority issues. The proposed budget aimed at slashing $235 million from the agency's Office of Research and Development raised concerns among environmental activists regarding the potential impacts on scientific research vital for public health and safety. This restructuring effort continues in a broader political context as the Trump administration sets out to reduce agency budgets by approximately two-thirds, impacting staffing levels and capabilities. Reports indicated that there could be layoffs affecting as many as 1,155 employees, which would significantly reduce the EPA's scientific workforce. Critics, including some scientists and activists, voiced fears that the reorganization could undermine independent research and endanger the agency's mission to protect both public health and the environment. Zeldin aimed to alleviate tensions with state regulators and promote better collaboration through the establishment of an Office of State Air Partnerships. He asserted that this new office would focus on improving the processing of State Implementation Plans for air quality management. Zeldin's proposal also included creating additional offices like the Office of Clean Air and the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions, intended to enhance transparency and elevate the importance of scientific assessments in the agency's decision-making processes. In the announcement, Zeldin stated that the agency expects to add over 130 new experts to expedite the review of numerous chemicals and pesticides, while addressing various emergent issues such as emergency responses and water conservation efforts. While being presented as a reorganization to streamline operations and save costs, the significant budget cuts and proposed layoffs have raised alarms among advocacy groups regarding the future of environmental protections and public health initiatives. The combination of budget slashes and structural alterations raises critical questions about the EPA's capability to fulfill its statutory obligations and maintain its role as a guardian of the environment.