EPA Environmental Justice Office Closures

Amanda Cronin joined the EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) in May 2023 as a program analyst.
She was excited to be part of the Biden Administration's push for environmental justice.
Her work involved coordinating partnerships with tribes and local advocacy groups.
She also organized webinars to inform residents about federal grants for fighting pollution.
In November, Donald Trump's election led to concerns about the future of environmental regulations.
On February 6, Cronin and 167 others were placed on indefinite leave and locked out of their email accounts.
A week later, 388 additional staffers were terminated.

The EPA is eliminating all environmental justice offices and positions.
This includes jobs in OEJECR and in environmental justice offices within the EPA’s 10 regional divisions.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated the move was to comply with President Trump’s executive order “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.”
The Trump administration conflates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives with environmental justice efforts.
Environmental justice is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in the development and implementation of environmental laws and policies.
Cronin argues that their work aligns with uplifting poor, working class communities.

OEJECR was established in 1992 during President George H.W. Bush’s administration.
Its initial aim was to fight “disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations.”
Initially, the office had several dozen staffers within the Office of Policy.
In 2022, former EPA Administrator Michael Regan transformed OEJECR into a national program office and planned to increase staff to 200.
Margot Brown of the Environmental Defense Fund called the decision transformative, elevating the need for clean air, clean water, and safe land for all Americans.
As a national program office, OEJECR had direct access to the EPA’s top decision-makers.

Tracy, another former environmental justice staffer, helped manage cooperative agreements (a type of grant).
She describes a work environment with people from diverse backgrounds who relocated to contribute to environmental justice.
The team worked with historically disadvantaged communities and aimed to right the wrongs of the past.
Tracy refutes claims that the office wasted federal dollars on DEI initiatives, emphasizing their active involvement with grantees.

The closure announcement coincided with Zeldin's announcement of the “biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history.”
This action aims to reduce federal oversight of the automobile, oil, and gas industries.
The EPA intends to eliminate environmental regulations, including those governing petroleum refineries and climate-warming emissions.
Zeldin terminated $20$ billion in Biden climate grants designated for underserved communities.
These actions undermine efforts to fight pollution and put people at risk of increased exposure to toxins.

Two federal judges found the Trump administration’s firing sprees unlawful and ordered reinstatements.
Tracy received an email from the EPA informing her that her termination had been rescinded, but she now on administrative leave.
She believes her position will be eliminated soon.

Tracy raises concerns about communities near toxic sites (brownfields).
She questions what will happen to these communities when companies relocate, leaving behind pollution.