The letter had accused the Trump administration of politicizing, dismantling and sidelining the agency."
"The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday placed 144 employees on administrative leave and opened an investigation into their decision to sign a letter accusing the Trump administration of politicizing the agency.
Current and former E.P.A. employees, lawyers and advocates expressed alarm at the development, saying the agency appeared to be ignoring the employees’ First Amendment rights.
The agency said its actions were warranted because the employees had signed the letter using their official titles and because the letter had denigrated the agency’s leadership. “The Environmental Protection Agency has a zero-tolerance policy for career bureaucrats unlawfully undermining, sabotaging and undercutting the administration’s agenda as voted for by the great people of this country last November,” the E.P.A. press secretary, Brigit Hirsch, wrote in an email."
Maxine Joselow reports for the New York Times July 3, 2025.
SEE ALSO:
"EPA Puts 139 Employees On Leave Who Criticized Administration" (E&E News)
"EPA Puts On Leave 139 Employees Who Spoke Out Against Policies Under Trump" (AP)
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