Trump Dismantles Environmental Justice Team, Staff Put on Leave

The EPA on Thursday put 168 employees within its environmental justice office on administrative leave as the Trump administration executes presidential actions to roll back diversity initiatives.

The affected staffers’ functions “did not relate to the agency’s statutory duties or grant work,” an Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman said.

The agency “is in the process of evaluating new structure and organization to ensure we are meeting our mission of protecting human health and the environment for all Americans,” the spokeswoman said.

The move to dismantle the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights is consistent with an executive order President ...