The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will eliminate all diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice offices and positions nationwide, following a directive from Administrator Lee Zeldin. The decision, outlined in an internal memo dated March 11, 2025, and confirmed by the EPA, responds to executive orders signed by President Trump targeting government DEI programs. The move includes the closure of the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights at EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C., and the dissolution of Environmental Justice Divisions across 10 regional offices. Approximately 200 employees are expected to be affected, with many already placed on administrative leave. Zeldin stated that the agency’s future focus will be on addressing environmental issues directly without applying criteria based on applicants' backgrounds.
The Office of Environmental Justice, originally established in 1992 under President George H.W. Bush, aimed to mitigate the environmental and health impacts on minority and low-income communities. The office was significantly expanded in 2022 with a $3 billion grant from the Inflation Reduction Act. Critics, including former Deputy Assistant Administrator Matthew Tejada, warned that dismantling these offices will undermine long-standing relationships with vulnerable communities and erase decades of progress. Tejada described the closures as catastrophic, raising concerns about rebuilding trust in communities historically affected by environmental pollution.
