EPA puts 139 employees on administrative leave for using official titles in an unauthorized letter that allegedly misled the public.

EPA Launches Investigation Into Employee Conduct

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has placed 139 staff members on administrative leave as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged misuse of official titles in a letter that, according to officials, misrepresented agency business and misled the public. The move comes after the letter was published by employees identifying themselves as EPA staff, raising concerns about unauthorized communication and adherence to agency policy.

The letter, signed under the group Stand Up for Science, was not only released publicly but also directly emailed to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. According to agency statements, the letter included information that contradicted EPA policy and was presented in a way that misused staffers' official roles and titles. An EPA spokesperson confirmed, “The Environmental Protection Agency has a zero-tolerance policy for career bureaucrats unlawfully undermining, sabotaging and undercutting the administration’s agenda as voted for by the great people of this country last November.”

Stand Up for Science, the nonprofit hosting the “Declaration of Dissent” for these employees, acknowledged the situation and expressed solidarity with those placed on leave. In a statement, founder and executive director Colette Delawalla noted, “All I know is what EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said to the press. This was not just a public letter—it was emailed to him by employees at the EPA on Monday morning, and published after it was sent to him. He has not formally responded to his employees, and they have been placed on administrative leave. Though we are still gathering information on this situation, we condemn these actions. These are dedicated civil servants whose career goal is to keep Americans safe.”

Wider Context: Restructuring and Policy Shifts

The disciplinary action follows significant restructuring within the EPA. In April, President Donald Trump’s administration either terminated or reassigned nearly 500 EPA employees. Administrator Zeldin reported that 280 staffers, including those in the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, Office of Inclusive Excellence, and EPA regional offices, were fired. Another 175 employees were reassigned. The EPA also eliminated its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Environmental Justice branches, and scaled back more than 30 regulations implemented during the previous administration.

Despite these moves, the agency continues to employ thousands, with the current disciplinary action affecting a fraction of its total workforce. The EPA has not provided additional information regarding the status of the investigation or the specific content of the letter that led to the administrative leaves.

The events underscore ongoing tensions between EPA staff and agency leadership as the administration pursues aggressive policy and personnel reforms. The situation has drawn attention to the rules governing internal dissent, the use of official titles, and the balance between employee advocacy and agency directives.

As the investigation proceeds, both supporters and critics of the EPA’s actions are watching closely, raising broader questions about transparency, governance, and the evolving role of public servants within federal agencies.