9 h. ago Trump’s EPA eliminates research and development office and begins layoffs

Administration’s move to cut thousands of agency jobs will be devastating for US public health, union warnsThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Friday it is eliminating its research and development arm and reducing agency staff by thousands of employees. One union leader said the moves “will devastate public health in our country”.The agency’s office of research and development (ORD) has long provided the scientific underpinnings for the EPA’s mission to protect the environment and human health. The EPA said in May it would shift its scientific expertise and research efforts to program offices that focus on major issues such as air and water. Continue reading...

Politics

25 h. ago EPA eliminates research and development office, begins layoffs

The Environmental Protection Agency said Friday it is eliminating its research and development arm and reducing agency staff by thousands of employees

Politics

5 d. ago Trump officials address ‘chemtrails’ conspiracy theories while spreading misinformation, experts say

EPA’s move comes as it slashes climate research funding and cuts weather forecasting and scientific agencies’ staffTrump officials’ recent attempt to dispel concerns about “chemtrails” has perplexed and angered some experts who say the administration has itself promoted the conspiracy theory while also spreading climate misinformation.“This is an intriguing strategy in an administration that, depending on agency, is actively promulgating conspiracy theories or at least conspiratorial thinking,” said Timothy Tangherlini, a professor at the Berkeley School of Information who studies the circulation of folklore and conspiracy theories. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump defends response to deadly Texas flooding after touring disaster area – live updates

President and Texas governor praise handling of flooding that has killed at least 120 people; Trump calls reporter ‘evil’ for asking about lack of warningsThe US state department is firing more than 1,300 employees in line with the Trump administration’s reorganization plan initiated earlier this year. The department is sending layoff notices to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments in the US, a senior state department official told the Associated Press. Foreign service officers affected will be placed immediately on administrative leave for 120 days, after which they will formally lose their jobs, according to an internal notice obtained by the AP. For most affected civil servants, the separation period is 60 days, it said. “In connection with the departmental reorganization the department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” the notice says. “Headcount reductions have been carefully tailored to affect non...

Events

8 d. ago Trump to visit Texas to survey damage from deadly flooding – live updates

While the Trump administration isn’t backing away from its pledges to shutter Fema, it has lessened its focus on the topic since the July 4 disasterThe US state department is firing more than 1,300 employees in line with the Trump administration’s reorganization plan initiated earlier this year. The department is sending layoff notices to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments in the US, a senior State Department official told the Associated Press. Foreign service officers affected will be placed immediately on administrative leave for 120 days, after which they will formally lose their jobs, according to an internal notice obtained by the AP. For most affected civil servants, the separation period is 60 days, it said. “In connection with the departmental reorganization the department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” the notice says. “Headcount reductions have been carefully tailored to affect non-core f...

Events

1 week ago Floods are swallowing their village. Trump’s EPA cut a major lifeline for them and others

The administration has wiped over $2.7bn in climate grants, hitting underserved communities across the US the hardestThis story was originally published by FloodlightAcre by acre, the village of Kipnuk is falling into the river. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago EPA puts on leave 139 employees who spoke out against policies under Trump

The Environmental Protection Agency has placed on administrative leave 139 employees who signed a so-called “declaration of dissent” against the federal agency's policies

Politics

2 w. ago EPA forced to auction off 20,000 lab rats, mice, and rabbits as Trump shuts down research projects

Approximately three quarters of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development — representing 1,000 scientist positions — will be cut under the Trump administration

Politics

2 w. ago EPA staffers are trying to get people to adopt lab rats as Trump team shuts down research projects

Approximately three quarters of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development — representing 1,000 scientist positions — will be cut under the Trump administration

Politics

2 w. ago EPA employees put names to 'declaration of dissent' over agency moves under Trump

A group of Environmental Protection Agency employees has published a declaration of dissent to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin over the agency's leadership and policies

Politics