The article reports that, as part of broad governmental reforms led by figures such as Elon Musk and the Trump administration, key functions within the Environmental Protection Agency are under threat. Specifically, the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, which plays a critical role in monitoring air pollution and identifying harmful chemicals in drinking water, is slated for significant cuts. This restructuring reflects an authoritarian approach to diminishing regulatory oversight in areas crucial for protecting public health and the environment.

A proposed reorganization at the EPA under Trump administration nominee Lee Zeldin risks eliminating long-standing progressive programs such as Energy Star and key climate offices, while also ushering in deferred resignation offers that may force layoffs. This move is seen as a politically motivated rollback of environmental protections and staff rights.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on March 10, 2025, the cancellation of over 400 DEI and Environmental Justice grants valued at approximately $1.7 billion. Senate Democrats and other critics argue that this move undermines critical support for marginalized communities and violates congressional mandates for environmental justice.

The Trump administration is replacing career EPA staff with political appointees, a move that increases White House influence over environmental policy and undermines the agency’s longstanding nonpartisan scientific expertise.

Under President Trump’s administration, the EPA has been staffed with numerous appointees with prior ties to the chemical, oil, and fossil fuel industries. Figures like Nancy Beck and others, with backgrounds in industry lobbying and previously controversial records on chemical safety, have been reappointed, raising concerns about the agency’s commitment to scientific integrity and environmental protection.

A recent Republican staff report from the House Energy and Commerce Committee criticizes the Biden-Harris EPA for awarding nearly three billion dollars in environmental justice grants. The report alleges that these funds, which support groups engaged in political outreach and progressive election activities, amount to politically motivated cronyism. From an anti-fascist perspective, however, the grants are seen as a means to empower marginalized communities and counter authoritarian influences by promoting environmental justice and progressive agenda.

On September 5, 2024, the EPA announced the selection of 34 projects proposed by Tribal nations and territories to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support renewable energy initiatives. The grants, funded through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda and the Inflation Reduction Act, are aimed at advancing environmental justice, enhancing tribal sovereignty, and promoting community-driven climate solutions.