EPA Fires Dissent' Statement Signers

"Most EPA employees signed anonymously for fear of the type of retribution now seen in the Friday firings, which were widely anticipated after the agency moved to cancel employee bargaining and grievance rights agreements earlier in August. The employees had previously been placed on paid leave after the letter's release by the agency. This employment limbo was extended three times while they were under investigation for preparing the declaration during work hours, since extended into September for many of the remaining signatories."

""EPA supervisors made decisions on an individualized basis," following investigations, according to an agency statement released on Friday, first reported by the Washington Post. In the June Declaration of Dissent, hundreds of Environmental Protection Agency employees had decried the administration's moves to undermine the EPA mission of protecting human health and the environment. Their complaints ranged from EPA ignoring science to benefit polluters to the agency dismantling initiatives aimed at protecting disadvantaged communities."

Five Environmental Protection Agency employees were fired and four others were served removal notices after signing a June Declaration of Dissent criticizing administration actions that weakened pollution, climate, and health protections. Hundreds of EPA staff had complained that policy changes ignored science, benefited polluters, and dismantled programs protecting disadvantaged communities. Most signatories had remained anonymous out of fear of retaliation. The named employees were placed on paid leave during investigations into whether they prepared the declaration during work hours; that employment limbo was extended three times and carried into September for many remaining signatories. The agency said supervisors made individualized decisions.

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