EPN Comments on New Active Ingredient Cyclobutrifluram
On May 6, 2025, EPN submitted comments urging EPA to reject cyclobutrifluram registration due to the lack of adequate research and information in the human health risk assessment and the proposed labeling requirements.
EPN Comments on Proposed Registration of Pesticides Containing Isocycloseram
On June 9, 2025, EPN submitted comments criticizing EPA’s proposed registration of the new pesticide, isocycloseram.
EPN Comments on Proposed Registration of Pesticides Containing Vadescana dsRNA
On June 13, 2025, EPN submitted comments to EPA supporting the proposed registration of pesticide products containing Vadescana dsRNA to control Varroa mites in commercial honeybee colonies.
Betsy Southerland, former Director, Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, and Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, former Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Research and Development, were quoted in E&E News. They warn that with EPA’s greatly expanded mission, reverting to 1980s EPA staffing could leave the agency reactive rather than proactive, heightening risks of missed deadlines, litigation, and public health harms. Stan Meiburg, former Acting Deputy Administrator, was quoted in The Hill. EPA is down more than 700 career staffers so far this year, the agency told The Hill. June 11, 2025 / by Scott Glaberman, H. Christopher Frey, and Tamara Tal / Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Chris Frey, former Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Research and Development, co-authored an op-ed published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Recent reports suggest that the Trump administration plans to eliminate EPA’s Office of Research and Development.
Civil Service in the News
Zeldin Wants a ‘Reagan era’-Sized EPA. He Already Has One.
EPA Down at Least 733 Staffers Since January
Dismantling EPA’s Research Office Jeopardizes Environmental Safety, Public Health, and US Competitiveness
EPN put out several press releases condemning Trump’s EPA—calling for adequate funding for the agency and the protection of scientific integrity.
EPN Urges Congress to Appropriately Fund EPA
The Environmental Protection Network sent a letter to Congress urging them to provide at least $12 billion for EPA in FY2026.
Former EPA Officials Urge OPM to Uphold Scientific Integrity in Federal Hiring
On May 20, 2025, a group of former senior EPA officials submitted a public comment urging the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to uphold and strengthen scientific integrity through its proposed revisions to the hiring qualifications for the federal government’s natural resources and environmental occupations.
EPN Condemns EPA’s Proposed Budget: Massive Cuts to Enforcement and Key Programs Jeopardize Public Health and Environmental Protection
EPN strongly condemns EPA’s newly released FY2026 Budget-in-Brief, which proposes a staggering 49% cut to enforcement, undermining the agency’s ability to uphold the nation’s environmental laws and protect public health.
EPN volunteers penned op-eds about EPA’s crucial work and the impact funding cuts would have on its workforce and mission. Dennis McLerran, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 10, co-wrote an op-ed for The Herald. Cuts to agencies and their staff sidestep Congress’ authority and put current environmental regulations in jeopardy. Bill Reilly, former EPA Administrator, wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post about the importance of ENERGY STAR®. Amy Zimpfer, former Associate Director, Air Division, EPA Region 9, wrote a letter to the editor of the Marin Independent Journal about the importance of scientific integrity.
Volunteer Op-Eds
Comment: Trump Threatens State’s Clean Air, Water, Environment
This Program Should Make a DOGE Bro Swoon. It’s Imperiled Instead.
Administration Is a Threat to the Integrity of the EPA
EPN volunteers were quoted in additional articles about air pollution monitoring and the costs of EPA rollbacks. Jay Benforado, former Chief Innovation Officer, EPA Office of Research and Development, and George Wyeth, former Attorney and Policy Analyst, EPA Office of General Counsel, were quoted in NPR. Community groups in Louisiana have filed a federal lawsuit alleging a state law that regulates air pollution monitoring violates their constitutional rights. EPN was mentioned in AP News. The Trump EPA is aiming to undo or revise more than 30 major environmental regulations, many of them written or updated by the Biden administration. Joe Goffman, former Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in The New York Times. Extreme heat is making air pollution worse, scientists say. And President Trump’s regulatory rollbacks could drive air pollution even higher.
EPN in the News
Community Groups Say Louisiana Is Trying to Stop Them From Monitoring Air Pollution
How AP Calculated the Costs and Death Toll of EPA Rule Rollbacks
Extreme Heat Is Exacerbating Air Pollution, a ‘Double Whammy’ for Health
