EPA restructuring to include cuts, consolidation, shifting resources

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is streamlining its workforce and reallocating resources as part of a broader restructuring initiative aimed at improving efficiency, according to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. In an effort to enhance organizational effectiveness, the agency plans to reduce staff levels to those of the 1980s and save approximately $300 million annually. This move is intended to better incorporate scientific findings into policymaking and emphasize providing cleaner air, water, and land for communities. The EPA also aims to enhance collaboration with state agencies, particularly in air and water monitoring, as well as establish new programs to expedite chemical approvals. Zeldin stressed the importance of achieving a balance between environmental protection and economic growth through these reforms.