EPA Democratic Senators call for the reinstatement of 140 employees who are currently on leave.
140 EPA Employees Remain on Administrative Leave Amidst Controversy
More than 140 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees have been on administrative leave since early July 2025, following the signing of a "Declaration of Dissent" addressed to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. The letter, penned in the employees' personal capacity, criticized the agency's direction under Zeldin and accused the administration of recklessly undermining the EPA’s mission [1][2][4].
The investigation concerns the employees’ conduct related to their use of official titles and EPA resources when signing and endorsing the dissent letter. EPA management extended administrative leave multiple times to continue the inquiry into whether these employees used EPA time and systems inappropriately [3][5].
As of early August 2025, approximately 160 employees remain on paid administrative leave pending the ongoing investigation, which has been expanded and extended at least through August 15, 2025. EPA has required affected employees to answer detailed questions, including if they signed the dissent letter on official time or with government equipment [3][5].
The administrative actions and investigations have drawn criticism and calls for reinstatement from Senate Democrats, environmental groups, and unions. They argue that the employees are protected under First Amendment rights and that this response intimidates agency staff from expressing legitimate concerns about policy and scientific integrity [1][2][4].
In response, Democratic senators have written a letter to the EPA, urging the reinstatement of the employees and questioning why they are still on paid administrative leave. They also pressed the agency for a specific timeline of when the investigation would conclude [6].
The American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, which represents over 8,000 EPA employees, has also demanded the immediate reinstatement of the employees. AFGE Council 238 President Justin Chen called the EPA's decision to place the employees on administrative leave and threaten further employment actions a "blatant act of retaliation" [7].
Under Zeldin's leadership, the EPA has faced criticism for cutting funding for environmental improvements in minority communities, vowing to roll back federal regulations that lower air pollution, undoing a ban on a type of asbestos, and proposing the repeal of rules that limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants fueled by coal and natural gas [8].
The GOP budget proposal for fiscal 2026 suggests a 23% reduction in EPA's current funding levels [9]. The EPA spokesperson confirmed receiving the letter and stated that the agency will respond through the "proper channels" [10]. The investigation, initially expected to conclude on July 17, may have been extended to Aug. 1 [11].
References:
- CBS News
- The New York Times
- The Hill
- NPR
- Associated Press
- Democratic Senators' Letter to EPA
- AFGE Council 238 Statement
- The Washington Post
- Congressional Budget Justification
- EPA Spokesperson Statement
- Associated Press
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The Associated Press contributed to the report.
- The federal workforce at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing a contentious period, as more than 140 employees remain on administrative leave after signing a "Declaration of Dissent" criticizing the agency's direction under Administrator Lee Zeldin.
- The budget cuts proposed for the EPA's fiscal 2026 could lead to a reimagined workforce, as the GOP's plan suggests a 23% reduction in the agency's current funding levels.
- The ongoing investigation into the conduct of these EPA employees raises concerns about policy and legislative implications, with Senate Democrats and environmental groups arguing that the employees' First Amendment rights are being violated.
- In the realm of science, environmental-science, and climate-change, the EPA's workforce and the climate-change policy under Administrator Zeldin have become a hot topic in the broader general-news arena, as critics claim the administration's actions and proposals threaten the agency's mission and undermine scientific integrity.
