The Trump Administration eliminates environmental justice programs, placing nearly 200 workers from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) environmental justice initiatives on leave. The leave status was communicated to 168 workers in the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. The decision was confirmed by the EPA, which stated that the functions of these personnel were not in line with the agency’s grant work or statutory responsibilities.

Environmental organizations feared that because these changes undermine legal and regulatory protections, they would disproportionately affect lower-income populations and minorities who live close to polluting enterprises. The Environmental Integrity Project‘s executive director, Jen Duggan, denounced the action, saying it would put Americans in greater danger of contamination across the country.

Furthermore, more than 1,000 probationary workers—those who had been on the job for less than a year—were threatened with instant dismissal if they failed to defend their jobs. According to a source, several of these workers had been engaged in climate change-related initiatives.

Justice Department Reduces Environmental Programs and Workforce

Significant staff reductions are also being made in the Justice Department’s environmental initiatives. The Justice Department is reducing the size of an office that handles public records requests, policy and ethical advice, and regulation review, according to an internal email obtained by Reuters and three people with knowledge of the situation.

About 20 workers in the Law and Policy Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division are impacted by this cut. Additional staff reductions in environmental enforcement will result from the department’s “reduction in force” approach. Four workers who dealt with environmental justice issues had already been put on administrative leave before these proceedings.

The Trump Administration eliminates environmental justice programs as part of its broader strategy, which had already postponed all environmental litigation. Senior career section chiefs in charge of the DOJ’s environmental enforcement, natural resources, appellate, and environmental crimes divisions had also been removed. Regarding these events, the Justice Department chose not to comment.

Also Read: Reducing NO₂ Emissions From Coal Plants Could Save Indian Farmers $1 Billion Annually

Rescinding Environmental Justice Directives and Policy Shifts

Recently appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi revoked the Biden administration’s environmental justice directives in a memo on Wednesday. Bondi cited Trump’s comments in the document to support the claim that climate policies increased inflation and burdened companies with regulations. Additionally, the email stressed that the agency would enforce all federal criminal and civil statutes, including environmental laws, equally going forward.

These policy adjustments are in line with the Trump administration’s larger ambitions to reverse Biden-era climate regulations and eliminate federal funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Environmental activists have cautioned that these rollbacks diminish the government’s role in environmental justice, increase the hazards of pollution, and erode protections for communities that are already at risk.

Also Read: North Pole Temperatures Soared 20°C Above Average, Exceeding Ice Melting Point