EPA specialists, scientists leaving

According to a joint report by the New York Times and ProPublica, a non-profit investigative journalism group, hundreds of specialists from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are leaving. As of Dec. 22, over 700 EPA employees have left since the Trump administration took over. Of those, over 200 were scientists, and an additional 96 were called “environmental protection specialists.” Also among those who have left are nine department directors and “dozens of attorneys.” Those who have left either quit, retired, or took a buyout package offered by the administration. The positions are not expected to be refilled for the most part as the Trump administration has a stated goal of reducing the size of the agency. The report also noted that “The departures reflect poor morale and a sense of grievance at the agency.” It also reported that “Republican campaign operatives were using the Freedom of Information Act to request copies of emails from EPA officials suspected of opposing Mr. Trump and his agenda.”