EPA Announces Workforce Cuts, $748M in Projected Savings

The agency’s reorganization eliminates over 3,700 positions and shifts scientific work into program offices to streamline operations.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• Jul 18, 2025

The EPA announced a significant reduction in force (RIF) on Friday as part of a sweeping reorganization aimed at saving nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars. The move, which will primarily impact the Office of Research and Development, is expected to reduce EPA’s workforce by over 3,700 positions.

The agency projects $748.8 million in savings from the restructuring, which it says will allow for a more targeted, science-based approach to environmental protection while streamlining operations. The announcement comes amid a broader agency transformation under President Donald Trump’s administration and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, EPA has taken a close look at our operations to ensure the agency is better equipped than ever to deliver on our core mission of protecting human health and the environment while Powering the Great American Comeback,” said Zeldin. “This reduction in force will ensure we can better fulfill that mission while being responsible stewards of your hard-earned tax dollars.”

Restructuring EPA’s Research Footprint

The RIF primarily affects the Office of Research and Development, which had previously seen its scientific functions reallocated to program offices such as Air, Water, and Chemical Safety. These offices have absorbed hundreds of newly hired scientific, bioinformatics, IT, and technical experts, adding to EPA’s existing network of thousands of specialized professionals.

EPA also reiterated its plans to launch the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions, a new unit designed to place research and science at the forefront of agency rulemaking and state technical assistance.

Workforce Reduction by the Numbers

As of January 2025, EPA employed 16,155 staff. Following the latest RIF, and accounting for voluntary programs such as the Fork in the Road, Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA), the agency will operate with a workforce of 12,448 employees.

Voluntary retirements and resignations accounted for 3,201 applications, signaling broad internal participation in the agency’s restructuring initiatives.

Shifting Priorities and Policy Direction

The announcement follows the termination of the Environmental Justice (EJ) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, which EPA dismantled earlier this year. That reorganization included a RIF of 280 EJ and DEI personnel, with 195 employees reassigned to program offices performing statutory and mission-critical duties.

Implications for Industry and States

The consolidation of research into program-specific offices and the creation of a centralized science office suggest a more applied, regulatory-focused scientific direction. Industry stakeholders and state environmental regulators may experience changes in how technical assistance and scientific input are delivered in the context of permitting, compliance, and enforcement.