On July 18, the EPA stated that it would start laying off employees and dissolving its Office of Research and Development.
According to the EPA website, the office has previously carried out research to safeguard human health and ecosystems from contaminants. Employees in the research officer received letters informing them that they would either be transferred to other branches or fired completely, while the agency’s news release claimed that the reduction in force would result in savings of $748.8 million.
Wendy Wagner, an environmental policy chair professor at the UT School of Law, said the office’s function in the US government was essential.
Wagner stated, “We’re losing two things.” Much of the fundamental research that supports science is disappearing. Additionally, we are losing well-rounded, superior, high-caliber research that complies with regulatory requirements.
Wagner expressed optimism that the reduction in duties will enable researchers to pursue new careers, including research positions at universities, notwithstanding the layoffs.
According to Wagner, the bright side is that some of the top scientists in the world are currently unemployed, which is a really sad thing. We may want to search for academics in the future.
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility’s director of science policy, Kyla Bennett, also voiced her displeasure with the office’s closing.
Bennett stated that there is no justification for restructuring and reducing the ORD’s employment. We’re going to lose the wealth of scientific information it gives us.
According to Bennett, Texas and its environment will be among the first areas to be affected by the labor reductions.
According to Bennett, states like Texas will see more climatic disasters, contaminated air, contaminated water, and contaminated food. The folks aren’t treated fairly.
According to Wagner, the politicization of the EPA could lead to even more problems in regulating scientific research.
According to Wagner, the administration sought to abolish ORD because it served as a check on the politicization of science. The fox now controls the hen house entirely, and there is no longer any interior staff to confront them as there once was.
