Unleashing EPA Reforms: Zeldin's Plan to Boost Efficiency and Strengthen US Environment
EPA head Zeldin declares staffing adjustments to restore agency to Reagan-era staffing levels
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is spearheading a radical transformation to knit science into EPA regulations and slash taxes for Americans. During a recent interview with Laura Ingraham, Zeldin outlined his vision for a leaner, more efficient EPA.
Zeldin declared his intention to save US taxpayers an staggering $300 million annually through an office overhaul. This restructuring process will help the EPA retain its focus on safeguarding both human health and the environment while adopting "sensible policies."
Currently employing around 15,000 full-time workers, Zeldin plans to trim this figure down to levels that resemble the Reagan-era. Back in 1984, the EPA boasted only 11,400 staff members under Ronald Reagan's administration, according to Reuters.
The remodeling will impact several departments, including the Office of the Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), and Office of Water.
Notably, the research office will be revamped, with its focus shifting to crucial statutory obligations and mission-critical duties. To achieve this, Zeldin will establish the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions.
The new Office will prioritize research, ensuring science guides the agency's rulemakings and technical help given to states. The OCSPP will augment its team by adding more than 130 scientific, technical, bioinformatic, and IT experts. These specialists will work on the backlog of over 500 new chemicals under review that are past their statutory review timeframe and over 12,000 reviews long overdue in the pesticides program.
The EPA will also introduce the Office of State Air Partnerships within the Office of Air and Radiation, streamlining air permitting complications across state, local, and tribal levels.
The agency will also create the Office of Clean Air Programs, which will realign statutory obligations and mission-essential functions based on centers of expertise to ensure greater transparency and harmony in regulatory development. Similarly, modifications to the Office of Water will align the creation of regulations, guidance, and policy with the science behind them.
Administrator Zeldin took over the EPA in the early months of 2025, inheriting a workforce that struggled to consistently attend the office. In 2024, the highest EPA attendance day in D.C. only reached around 37%. Zeldin swiftly ended the remote work policies introduced during the COVID-19 era upon President Trump's inauguration.
According to Zeldin, the EPA's budget and awards last year alone - under the Biden administration - stood at a colossal $63 billion. In contrast, the agency's funding during the Trump era fluctuated between $6 billion and $8 billion annually.
With assistance from DOGE, the EPA has identified and canceled more than $22 billion in grants and contracts, marking significant savings for American taxpayers.
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin plans to save US taxpayers $300 million annually by trimming the EPA's workforce down to Reagan-era levels and focusing on sensible policies that prioritize human health and environmental safety.
- The remodeling will affect various departments, including the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions, which will prioritize research and ensure science guides the agency's rulemakings and technical help given to states.
- The EPA will also streamline air permitting complications across state, local, and tribal levels by creating the Office of State Air Partnerships within the Office of Air and Radiation.
- The EPA's budget last year under the Biden administration stood at a colossal $63 billion, in stark contrast to the agency's funding during the Trump era, which fluctuated between $6 billion and $8 billion annually.
- With the help of DOGE, the EPA has already identified and canceled more than $22 billion in grants and contracts, marking significant savings for American taxpayers.
