The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated an investigation into 139 employees who were placed on administrative leave for allegedly misusing their official titles and EPA positions in an unauthorized letter that misled the public. The letter, which appeared to be issued under the group Stand Up for Science, reportedly contradicted the agency’s policies and was sent to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on Monday. An EPA spokesperson said the agency has a zero-tolerance policy for such misconduct.
This incident comes amid broader changes at the EPA, including staff cuts and the elimination of DEI initiatives under Zeldin’s leadership. Zeldin confirmed that 280 staffers in the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, Office of Inclusive Excellence, and EPA regional offices, were fired. He added that 175 others were reassigned. The EPA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Environmental Justice arms were also eliminated, as Zeldin cut back more than 30 Biden-era regulations.
Although more than a hundred employees were allegedly put on leave, there are thousands of employees at the agency. The EPA did not provide Fox News Digital with any additional information about the situation. The employees in question issued their statement under the auspices of the group Stand Up for Science.
Stand Up for Science confirmed to Fox News Digital via email that it has