FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2025
CONTACT:
Aaron Bharucha, Public Relations Associate
(509) 429-1699 and epn-press@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org
Zeldin Takes Further Steps to Dismantle Science Research Office, Jeopardizing Public Health
“EPA science is the reason we know whether the water coming out of our taps is safe to drink and whether the air our kids breathe is clean.”
Washington D.C. – This morning, EPA staff began receiving notifications that the threatened reorganization of EPA’s critical Office of Research and Development (ORD) is underway. For decades, ORD has been the backbone of EPA science—developing publicly vetted research action plans on the harmful impact of everything from PFAS “forever chemicals” to wildfire smoke. As many as 1,000 scientists could be impacted by this reorganization.
“EPA science is the reason we know whether the water coming out of our taps is safe to drink and whether the air our kids breathe is clean,” said Dr. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, who worked at the EPA for over 40 years, including as EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science. “Much of our understanding of virtually every toxic threat to public health comes from the scientists at the Office of Research and Development. Taking away ORD as an independent scientific resource can impact the public trust in EPA and put people’s health at risk.”
“Zeldin is rushing to jam through sweeping changes before Congress reaches agreement on funding for next year—flouting the Senate’s appropriations committee’s bipartisan direction that EPA science must remain independent and accountable,” added Jeremy Symons, Senior Advisor at Environmental Protection Network. In a strong, bipartisan vote earlier this summer, Senate appropriators advanced a funding bill that directs Zeldin to halt his plans to dismantle EPA’s science office—the very same plans that Zeldin advanced today.
###
ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NETWORK
Founded in 2017, the Environmental Protection Network harnesses the expertise of more than 650 former EPA career staff and confirmation-level appointees from Democratic and Republican administrations to provide the unique perspective of former scientists and regulators with decades of historical and subject matter knowledge. Find all of EPN’s recent press statements here.