Science Lost: How EPA’s Research Unit Shrinks

The Environmental Protection Agency once had a powerful research wing that pushed forward science to protect people from air and chemical dangers. In recent years, many of its scientists have been moved or told to retire, shrinking the team from about 1, 500 to just over a hundred. These remaining researchers now face a deadline of May 1 to decide if they will stay in their new roles or leave the federal workforce. For decades, studies from this office highlighted the need for tougher rules on air pollution and toxic chemicals. Their findings helped avert thousands of illnesses and early deaths, but also drew criticism from industry groups who argued the regulations were too strict. The research covered everything from how pollutants affect human health to how chemicals harm wildlife.

The scale of work that has vanished is striking. A North Carolina lab that studied human exposure to common air pollutants was shut down last year, leaving one of the few places in the country that could do such tests. In Minnesota, a freshwater research center once ranked as the best in the nation lost almost all of its scientists. Teams that examined how chemicals impact reproduction, or how toxins damage brain cells, were also disbanded. Because of these cuts, many valuable projects have stalled or ended. The loss means fewer experts are available to test new pollutants and evaluate emerging threats, potentially delaying the creation of safeguards for public health. The remaining scientists are now working under uncertainty, knowing that their future in federal science could change dramatically after the deadline.

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