US Governance — 2026-04-11

EPA Reassigns Remaining Scientists, Targeting Dissent Signatories and Disability Accommodation Holders

EPA issued reassignment orders to remaining scientists from the dissolved Office of Research and Development, requiring many to relocate or leave the agency. Internal sources and union representatives report the reassignments disproportionately target employees who signed an open dissent letter against the Trump administration, hold disability accommodations, are retirement-eligible, or reversed their deferred resignation opt-ins. The EPA union demanded no forced relocations, calling the moves a transparent attempt to dismantle scientific capacity while pushing experienced staff out.

Analysis
The correlation between reassignment targets and dissent letter signatories, disability accommodation holders, and deferred-resignation reversals suggests a targeting pattern that could constitute retaliation under the Whistleblower Protection Act. The forced relocations follow the complete dissolution of the Office of Research and Development, leaving EPA without internal scientific capacity for the first time in its history.
2 sources
  1. EPA tells some scientific research staffers to relocate - The Hill
  2. In blow to the environment, EPA begins to dismantle its research office - Science

View in full brief →

UNCLASSIFIED // OPEN SOURCE