Trump Plans 65% EPA Workforce Reduction, Sparks Controversy

President Donald Trump announced plans to cut the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) workforce by 65%, reducing it to levels not seen since its founding in 1970. This drastic reduction, which has alarmed current and former EPA employees, is part of a broader strategy to cut federal spending and improve efficiency, according to Trump and EPA administrator Lee Zeldin. Critics argue that such cuts would severely hinder the agency's ability to protect public health and the environment, especially amid increasing environmental challenges exacerbated by climate change. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) highlighted concerns that the EPA's already outdated limits on drinking water contaminants could remain unchanged due to diminished oversight. The proposed cuts come as nearly 400 employees have already been laid off, raising questions about the agency's future effectiveness. Former staff have expressed outrage, asserting that the suggestion of a 'ghost employee' problem is a mischaracterization of the agency's staffing situation.