Senators warn EPA reorganization and staffing cuts could imperil core functions

Senators expressed alarm at the Trump administration's proposed reorganization of the Environmental Protection Agency and the scale of personnel reductions described by multiple speakers at a May 20, 2025 subcommittee hearing.

“You've proposed massive reorganizations ... to include the elimination of the Office of Atmospheric Programs and the Office of Research and Development,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski said, asking for staffing and budgetary justifications.

Nut graf: Senators said eliminating scientific and program offices and moving forward with wide staff reductions would undermine regulatory enforcement and technical capacity for long-running programs — from Superfund site work to science-based rulemaking.

Sen. Patty Murray said the budget “slashes staff by over 20%” and warned that cutting the Office of Research and Development would remove scientific capacity that supports decisions on contaminants and fisheries. Sen. Jeff Merkley and others flagged thousands of staff departures from recent personnel actions and said the loss of scientists and technical specialists would hamper enforcement and research.

Administrator Zeldin defended the changes as part of an efficiency push and said the reorganization process is ongoing: “Each office is going to be identifying how much that office needs, how much each region needs to be able to fulfill our statutory obligations,” he said. Zeldin also told senators his team is working to retain necessary capacity and to meet statutory obligations.

Ending: Senators asked for detailed reprogramming information and office-by-office staffing plans; the administrator said more specifics would arrive with the full budget and the formal reorganization roadmap.