The Big Story 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is eliminating a scientific research office known as the Office of Research and Development and firing some of the staffers who work there.

© Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press file

“Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a reduction in force (RIF) as the agency continues its comprehensive restructuring efforts,” the agency said in a press release. “The RIF will impact the Office of Research and Development.”

An EPA spokesperson told The Hill in an email that the agency plans to “eliminate the Office of Research and Development (ORD).”

But that doesn’t necessarily mean the agency’s scientific research will end. 

The agency previously announced it would move at least some science into a new office called the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES). While the ORD has operated as its own office within the EPA, the OASES will be housed within the office of the administrator.

The EPA said in May the new science office will “align research and put science at the forefront of the agency’s rulemakings and technical assistance to states.”

Critics expressed concerns that moving science into the administrator’s office would make it easier for political influence to taint scientific research.

The EPA says it is getting rid of the ORD to “improve the effectiveness and efficiency of EPA operations and align core statutory requirements with its organizational structure.”

It’s not immediately clear exactly how many staffers are being let go as part of the Friday afternoon announcement. 

The press release states the agency had 16,155 employees in January and will be down to 12,448 staffers. It said that 3,201 took a buyout and an additional 280 were notified they would be fired amid a push to oust employees who worked on tackling pollution in underserved and minority communities. 

That leaves 226 workers, but it’s not clear if all of those people will be let go as part of the agency’s latest move.

Read more at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin  — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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Wednesday

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Thursday

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