Ranking Members Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) and Maxwell Frost Request Answers From EPA on the Ceased Enforcement of Environmental Protection Laws and Enactment of Project 2025 Playbook

Committee Democrats Sound the Alarm Over the Politicization of the EPA and Mission to Protect Human Health and the Environment
 

“We write with concern over the politicization of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its mission to protect human health and the environment.  In particular, we are concerned that the EPA is ceasing enforcement of environmental protection laws and forcing out nonpartisan staff in an effort to enact the radical agenda laid out in Project 2025,” wrote the Ranking Members.  “This pause in enforcement coupled with the January 20, 2025, Executive Order threatens to roll back all of the progress made on improving environmental enforcement under President Biden and will do tangible harm to communities across the country.”

On his first day in office, President Trump issued the Executive Order “Unleashing American Energy,” which directed federal agencies to prioritize domestic energy resources, especially fossil fuel-based energy.  On January 24, 2025, then-Acting EPA Administrator James Payne issued a directive ordering EPA staff to halt all external communications.  One EPA employee explained that “all enforcement is effectively shut down by this directive,” adding that the directive “pretty much shuts down EPA.”

In addition to pausing EPA enforcement actions, the Trump Administration appears to be pushing out key enforcement officials at the agency.  During President Trump’s second week in office, career senior EPA officials who oversaw key sections of EPA’s work were demoted, including at the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA).  Notably, Project 2025 calls for the elimination of OECA.

Unsurprisingly, Project 2025 also calls for eliminating the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR).  Since January 20, 2025, nearly 170 employees at OEJECR have been put on administrative leave.  As President Trump implements the Project 2025 playbook across the federal government, it appears that Project 2025 contributors are working closely with and even becoming political appointees at the EPA.

In order to better understand the current status and future of EPA enforcement, as well as the role that Project 2025 and its authors and contributors have played and continue to play in setting environmental policy, the Ranking Members requested Administrator Zeldin provide documents and communications related to the EPA’s paused enforcement actions and associated policy changes no later than March 11, 2025.

Click here to read the letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.