[WP] Trump Transition Leader’s Goal Is Two-Thirds Cut in EPA Employees – “The red lights are flashing at the Environmental Protection Agency. The words of Myron Ebell, the former head of President Trump’s EPA transition team, warn employees of a perilous future. Ebell wants the agency to go on a severe diet. It’s one that would leave many federal employees with hunger pains, and jobless, too. Ebell has suggested cutting the EPA workforce to 5,000, about a two-thirds reduction, over the next four years. The agency’s budget of $8.1 billion would be sliced in half under his prescription, which he emphasized is his own and not necessarily Trump’s.” (The Washington Post, 30 January 2017).
[AP] EPA Contract Freeze, Media Blackout Leave States Confused– “A Trump administration freeze on new Environmental Protection Agency contracts and grant awards raised fears that states and other recipients could lose essential funding for drinking water protection, hazardous waste oversight and a host of other programs — while a communications blackout left them dangling in uncertainty. The agency also took a potential first step Tuesday toward potentially killing environmental rules completed as President Barack Obama’s term wound down. At least 30 were targeted in the Federal Register for delayed implementation, including updated pollution rulings for several states, renewable fuel standards and limits on the amount of formaldehyde that can leach from wood products. President Donald Trump signed a directive shortly after his inauguration ordering a ‘freeze pending review’ on all federal rules issued by agencies but not yet in effect.” (Associated Press, 25 January 2017).
[NYT] EPA Science Under Scrutiny by Trump Political Staff– “The Trump administration is scrutinizing studies and data published by scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, while new work is under a ‘temporary hold’ before it can be released. The communications director for President Donald Trump’s transition team at EPA, Doug Ericksen, said Wednesday the review extends to all existing content on the federal agency’s website, including details of scientific evidence showing that the Earth’s climate is warming and man-made carbon emissions are to blame. Ericksen clarified his earlier statements he made to The Associated Press, which reported that the Trump administration was mandating that any studies or data from EPA scientists undergo review by political appointees before they can be released to the public. He said he was speaking about existing scientific information on the EPA website that is under review by members of the Trump administration’s transition team.” (New York Times, 25 January 2017).
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