Whistleblowers fired by US environmental protection agency: NGO
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A US science advocacy group has accused the Environmental Protection Agency of firing whistleblowers who criticized the Trump administration's environmental agenda.
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Medical researchers from universities and the National Institutes of Health rally near the Health and Human Services headquarters to protest budget cuts Wednesday, February 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has come under scrutiny after a science advocacy organization reported the dismissal of five whistleblowers who signed a public letter opposing the environmental policies of the Trump administration.
According to Stand Up for Science, a non-profit group formed in response to federal cuts to research funding, the EPA also issued removal notices to four additional employees. These individuals had signed the EPA Declaration of Dissent, a document critical of the agency’s direction under Donald Trump.
"The EPA fired five whistleblowers who signed the EPA Declaration of Dissent, and issued a Notice of Removal for an additional four employees," the organization stated on Friday.
In a response issued the same day, the EPA did not directly confirm the firings but acknowledged employment actions had been taken. “Following a thorough internal investigation, EPA supervisors made decisions on an individualized basis,” an agency spokesperson said to AFP, adding that the agency could not comment on specific personnel matters.
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The agency defended its actions, citing its “zero-tolerance policy for career officials using their agency position and title to unlawfully undermine, sabotage, and undercut the will of the American public that was clearly expressed at the ballot box last November.”
The EPA also claimed the petition contained "inaccurate information designed to mislead the public about agency business."
Trump environmental policies spark staff revolt
Since taking over as EPA Administrator, Lee Zeldin has implemented the Trump administration’s environmental rollback agenda. This has included dismantling climate regulations, expanding fossil fuel development, and reducing clean energy funding, actions that have alarmed scientists and environmental advocates across the United States.
In July, over 270 EPA employees signed the open letter criticizing the agency’s leadership. Of those, 170 allowed their names to be published. The letter warned of political interference, erosion of scientific integrity, and threats to public health protections.
“I signed the Declaration of Dissent because science is being sidelined in favor of political expedience,” one unnamed EPA employee was quoted as saying in the non-profit’s report.
US agencies clamp down on internal dissent
The reported dismissals at the EPA follow similar crackdowns within other federal bodies under the Trump administration. Employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have also faced disciplinary measures after expressing dissent.
Advocacy groups warn that these actions could have a chilling effect on transparency within federal agencies.
“This is a dangerous precedent,” said a spokesperson for Stand Up for Science. “The public relies on whistleblowers to expose misconduct, especially when public health and environmental safety are at stake.”
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