Staff placed on leave, map tool shut down in tumultuous week at EPA

Summary

Under new administrator Lee Zeldin, the EPA faced a tumultuous week with dramatic personnel changes. Over 1,100 probationary employees risk immediate termination.

In addition, 168 staffers working on environmental justice were placed on leave, deepening uncertainty and fear within the agency.

The EPA also disabled EJScreen, an online mapping tool used by governments to address environmental disparities, marking a shift in focus.

Zeldin’s new agenda claims to prioritize efficiency, AI development, and automotive jobs, a politically charged strategy that critics argue undermines EPA’s traditional mission.