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The Trump administration has placed nearly 200 environmental justice employees on leave and is cutting similar programs at the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed that 168 staffers from the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights were placed on administrative leave, stating their roles did not align with statutory duties or grant work.
Environmental groups warn that these cuts endanger minority and low-income communities living near polluting industries by weakening their protections. The Justice Department is also scaling back its environmental office, affecting around 20 employees in the Environment and Natural Resources Division Law and Policy Section. An internal email and sources familiar with the matter confirmed a planned "reduction in force."
Newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo rescinding Biden-era environmental justice directives, quoting Trump’s stance against "climate extremism" and overregulation. Prior to the announcement, four DOJ employees working on environmental justice were placed on leave. The DOJ declined to comment.
The Trump administration has also suspended all environmental litigation and sidelined key DOJ officials overseeing environmental crimes, enforcement, and appellate sections. Additionally, the EPA warned over 1,000 probationary employees—many working on climate change programs—that they could face termination if they failed to justify their roles by Thursday.
Critics argue these actions dismantle critical environmental safeguards, increasing pollution risks nationwide. Jen Duggan, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project, condemned the move, calling it a "chaotic attack" that exposes Americans to greater environmental harm.
This restructuring aligns with Trump's broader policies to weaken climate regulations and remove diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within federal agencies, signaling a major shift in environmental governance.
