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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $300 million budget cut for fiscal year 2026 and a major restructuring that includes reducing staff to 1980s levels and dissolving its Office of Research and Development. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the overhaul aligns with President Donald Trump’s goals of streamlining regulations, boosting domestic energy, and cutting costs.
Zeldin stated the changes will help fulfill the EPA’s mission while supporting Trump’s energy and manufacturing priorities. The plan includes shifting scientific research from independent departments to policy-aligned offices, including a new Office of Applied Science. The EPA will also dissolve its Office of Science and Technology and consolidate functions into program offices more closely tied to policy directives.
Critics, including the Union of Concerned Scientists, warn the reorganization could erode scientific integrity, turning the EPA into a political tool. Chitra Kumar of UCS said dissolving independent science offices and reclassifying researchers as political appointees undermines objective research.
The agency’s workforce will drop from over 15,000 to levels last seen in 1984, when it had around 11,400 employees. About 1,500 research staff must reapply for roughly 400 new positions. Affected employees have until May 5 to accept deferred resignation offers.
Other changes include creating a new Office of State Air Partnerships to assist state permitting agencies and expanding the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention by 130 positions to address a backlog of chemical and pesticide reviews. The EPA also aims to prioritize cybersecurity, emergency response, and water reuse initiatives.
While the administration claims the overhaul promotes efficiency and responsiveness, scientists argue it risks sidelining evidence-based decision-making in favor of political influence.
