Amidst concerns within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), employees in the environmental justice and civil rights office are bracing for a new wave of paid leave notifications that could impact a significant number of federal workers. The agency’s leadership recently conveyed to staff members its intent to enforce President Donald Trump’s executive order on diversity, equity, and inclusion, which includes the potential termination of environmental justice offices and positions. Following a similar pattern observed in the agency’s DEI office, which saw closure and subsequent paid administrative leave for employees, the environmental justice and civil rights office staff anticipate receiving formal written notices of paid leave imminently.

The exact scale of the impending impact remains uncertain, with around 200 federal employees operating within this specific division of the EPA. Notably, one of the unions representing EPA employees indicated that over 100 individuals could be affected, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of such a move. While the Trump administration views environmental justice programs as DEI initiatives, conflicting perspectives exist among workers. The EPA’s environmental justice efforts are designed to safeguard underserved communities from disproportionate health and environmental hazards, such as pollution and climate change impacts, aligning with the Biden administration’s Justice 40 initiative for equitable distribution of federal resources. The EPA has confirmed no current placements on administrative leave but has refrained from addressing further inquiries on the matter.