1 of 4 | The U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency is consolidating staff and shifting resources, part of a larger restructuring effort that will seek to “bring much needed efficiencies,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said this week. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
May 3 (UPI) — The U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency is consolidating staff and shifting resources, part of a larger restructuring effort that will seek to “bring much needed efficiencies,” officials announced.
The agency is also planning to cut jobs as part of the shake-up, reducing staffing to levels seen during the 1980s, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said this week.
“With these organizational improvements, we recommit to fulfilling all of our statutory obligations and exceptionally delivering on EPA’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment. This reorganization will bring much needed efficiencies to incorporate science into our rulemakings and sharply focus our work on providing the cleanest air, land and water for our communities. It will also save at least $300 million annually for the American people,” Zeldin said in the agency’s statement.
Zeldin said the agency will strive to “operate as efficiently and effectively as possible,” signaling the possibility of looming job cuts.
The New York Times previously reported President Donald Trump’s administration planned to fire over 1,500 scientists from the EPA at some point, citing an internal government document.
The agency had a workforce of 15,130 people and a $9.158 billion budget in the most recent fiscal year.
“This phase of reorganization will save t