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). …
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announces 31 historic deregulation actions in “the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history,” including reconsidering the 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding. Chemical industry veterans Nancy Beck (American Chemistry Council) …
Lee ZeldinNancy BeckLynn DeklevaEPAAmerican Chemistry Councilepaderegulationchemical-safetyregulatory-captureenvironmental-rollback
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