The EPA terminated all union contracts on August 8, 2025, immediately after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed a lower court injunction blocking Trump’s March executive order. EPA became the second federal agency (after VA) to cancel collective bargaining for its employees, affecting …
Environmental Protection AgencyAFGE Council 238 (8,000+ EPA workers)Justin Chen (AFGE Council 238 President)Ninth Circuit Court of AppealsNAGE, ESC, NAIL unions+1 morelabor-suppressionepaunion-bustingcollective-bargainingappellate-stays+2 more
EPA canceled Solar for All program August 7, 2025, terminating $7 billion in grants for 900,000 low-income households’ solar projects. Administrator Zeldin cited lack of statutory authority, saving “ANOTHER $7 BILLION.” Only $53 million of awarded funds spent (Atlas Public Policy). …
Trump’s EPA established an email portal allowing fossil fuel companies to request Presidential Exemptions from Clean Air Act regulations, enabling up to two-year compliance waivers for pollution control standards on nearly 200 toxic pollutants.
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationEnvironmental Protection Agencyregulatory-captureenvironmental-policyexecutive-power
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans to cut EPA workforce by approximately 23% and reduce the agency’s budget by 65%, representing the most aggressive environmental deregulation in agency history. The cuts would return EPA staffing to Reagan-era levels, eliminating scientific research …
lee-zeldinEPAjbsEnvironmental Protection Agencylee-zeldinepaenvironmental-destructionworkforce-cutsclimate-denial+3 more
On June 19, 2019, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, replacing the Obama-era Clean Power Plan with regulations designed to extend the lifetimes of heavily polluting coal-fired power plants. The ACE Rule established no meaningful limits on carbon pollution …
Andrew WheelerEnvironmental Protection AgencyDonald TrumpCoal IndustryScott Pruittclimate-denialeparegulatory-captureenvironmental-destructioncoal-industry+1 more
On July 9, 2018, Donald Trump named Andrew Wheeler as Acting EPA Administrator following Scott Pruitt’s resignation amid 14 federal corruption investigations. Wheeler, a former coal industry lobbyist who had represented Murray Energy—one of America’s largest coal companies—embodied …
Andrew WheelerDonald TrumpEnvironmental Protection AgencyFaegre Baker DanielsMurray Energy+1 moreregulatory-captureepafossil-fuelsclimate-denialrevolving-door+1 more
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned facing at least 14 federal investigations
into corruption, ethics violations, and misuse of taxpayer funds. Scandals included:
spending $43,000 on a soundproof phone booth, first-class travel costing over
$100,000, using staff for personal errands like finding …
Scott PruittDonald TrumpEnvironmental Protection AgencyAndrew Wheelercorruptioneparegulatory-captureethics-violationcabinet-scandal+2 more
A federal jury convicts EPA official Rita Lavelle of perjury for lying to Congress about her handling of the $1.6 billion Superfund toxic waste cleanup program. Lavelle, who headed the Superfund division, is found guilty on four of five felony counts for false testimony regarding her knowledge that …
Rita LavelleEnvironmental Protection AgencyAerojet-General CorporationRonald ReaganCongressepaperjurysuperfundconflict-of-interestregulatory-capture+1 more
Anne Gorsuch Burford resigns as EPA Administrator after becoming the first cabinet-level official in American history held in contempt of Congress. Gorsuch had refused to turn over Superfund records related to a $1.6 billion hazardous waste cleanup program, citing executive privilege on …
Anne Gorsuch BurfordRonald ReaganCongressEnvironmental Protection AgencyNeil Gorsuchepaenvironmental-deregulationregulatory-capturecontempt-of-congresssuperfund+1 more
The Reagan administration launches systematic dismantling of environmental protections through regulatory capture: appointing industry advocates to lead EPA and Interior, slashing enforcement budgets, weakening Clean Air and Water Act regulations, and opening public lands to resource extraction. EPA …
Ronald ReaganAnne GorsuchJames WattEnvironmental Protection AgencyDepartment of Interiorenvironmental-deregulationeparegulatory-capturereaganpublic-health