EPA shuts down key scientific office

On July 18, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the dissolution of its Office of Research and Development, replacing it with the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions. The Office of Research Development (ORD) conducts tests on how pollutants affect wildlife and lead to broader ecosystem and risk assessment research. The move follows a March report that the EPA presented to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology detailing the closure of ORD and termination of up to 75% of its staff to improve effectiveness and align with the administration’s goal to cut the federal workforce. The Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES) will house a smaller portion of the displaced staff within the office of administration. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the reorganization will save $748.8 million and “put science at the forefront” of regulatory decisions, ensuring the agency is better equipped for their core mission while “powering the great American comeback.” Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, a former senior ORD official, warned in March that eliminating the office would leave both people and the environment “at greater risk.” Responding to the recent announcement, she said, “At the end of the day, I think the American public is going to be underserved.”