Trump administration's agency-wide dismissals impact environmental justice initiatives
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several other federal agencies have been affected by personnel cuts, according to reports this week. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday about the personnel cuts within the EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR).
Multiple news outlets have reported similar cuts in multiple agency offices, including the OEJECR. The OEJECR, established in 2022, handles federal civil rights law disputes for applicants of federal financial assistance from the EPA and is responsible for ensuring the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in agency decision-making processes that affect human health and the environment.
The Trump administration's efforts to encourage employees from across the federal government to accept a "deferred resignation" were temporarily halted by a court order on Thursday. However, officials from the Office of Personnel Management announced that the deadline to accept the resignation is being extended to Monday, February 10, at 11:59pmET, and that the program is NOT being blocked or canceled.
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo on Wednesday that rescinded previous environmental justice programs within the Justice Department. The memo aims to "ensure that the Department engages in the even-handed administration of justice."
In a call on Thursday, Theresa Segovia, acting Assistant Administrator of the OEJECR, informed employees that those who had "performed 50% or greater duties in environmental justice or non-statutory work" would be placed on administrative leave.
Several news outlets have confirmed the reports of personnel cuts within multiple agency offices, with employees tied to environmental justice programs going on administrative leave. Reuters reports that four employees of the DOJ's Office of Environmental Justice and another 20 within ENRD are facing administrative leave or reduction in force action. Reports surfaced shortly after the inauguration that 25 staffers from the Energy Department's Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis have been placed on administrative leave.
The Energy Department's environmental justice document and publications web pages, as well as its Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis, now redirect to the DOE homepage, outlining the Trump administration's plan to "restore energy dominance."
The name of the person who is the current head of the OEJECR is not explicitly found in the provided search results. It is unclear how these personnel cuts will impact the work of these offices moving forward.
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