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An Environmental Protection Agency spokesperson denied that the agency has called for a halt on external communications despite a recent directive instructing employees not to communicate with outside entities, forcing them to pause various work as they await further guidance.
The directive is one of many similar gag orders across government, including those in place at public health agencies and the Defense Department. The instructions have caused outcry from some lawmakers and stakeholders concerned that key reports will not be issued and agency operations will be interrupted.
K.C. Schefski, EPA’s acting director in the Office of Civil Enforcement, for example, said in an email to staff that “the political leadership has directed that communications with external entities pause, with limited exceptions.” He added it was not yet clear how EPA enforcement actions would be impacted and was in contact with the administrator’s office on how to proceed.
Schefski instructed employees with meetings or negotiations scheduled with external parties regarding an administrative matter to send the following cancellation note: “Due to the administration change and transition activity, we need to cancel our upcoming meeting and reschedule for a later date. We will be in touch as soon as possible to find another time.”
EPA employees are not permitted to engage in any negotiations with outside parties, pending approval from the administrator’s office.
“We understand how challenging it is to sit with uncertainty,” Schefski said, adding employees should reach out to their division chiefs for more information. “We may not have answers, but we will do our best, and certainly are here to listen.”
EPA staff are permitted to work with state partners on non-case matters, per the email, though several employees have reported facing a ban from engaging in discussions with state or local governments.
Despite the notice that went out to staff, an EPA spokesperson denied that the agency issued a pause on external communications and noted it has continued issuing press releases.
“As part of standard transition procedures, most major decisions are undergoing a quick review process to ensure transparency and accountability to the American people,” the spokesperson said.
Tim Whitehouse, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility said the communications pause and other Trump administration actions affecting the federal workforce writ large would benefit corporations and individuals who oppose environmental enforcement.
“These moves are designed to weaken the federal government and inflict pain and trauma on those who have values and beliefs different than those of this administration,” Whitehouse said.
Shortly after President Trump’s inauguration, the Health and Human Service Department issued a pause on regulations, guidance, press releases and any website posts. The Defense Department sent a memo to staff instructing them not to post on official social media accounts for 10 days.
The pause was necessary “in order for DoD Components to prepare for this reorientation of content on their platforms,” Joe Kasper, the department’s newly sworn in chief of staff, said in the memo.
Trump came into office after promising to roll back many of EPA’s authorities. The president immediately revoked President Biden’s executive orders related to climate change and ordered EPA to review pending litigation to potentially seek stays on the cases until the administration can unwind the regulations that underlie them. He instituted a regulatory freeze and review at the agency and ordered it to facilitate new, non-wind energy projects. Trump also instructed EPA and other agencies to cease obligating funds made available by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Project 2025, from which many of Trump’s early policies can be traced back, proposed that EPA “downsize by terminating newest hires in low-value programs” while “identifying relocation opportunities” for Senior Executive Service personnel. The initiative suggested EPA slash its budget and reduce its total headcount.
The Trump administration offered early retirements and buyouts to EPA employees early in its tenure and the agency shed about 8% of its workforce in Trump’s four years. Trump’s nominee to lead EPA, Lee Zeldin, who is expected to be confirmed to his role on Wednesday, did not rule out a similar effort under his leadership, but said his focus was to make the agency more efficient.
“I want to make sure that my job as EPA administrator is to increase productivity, is to make sure that we are efficient and accountable and transparent, that we are to you, not just myself as administrator, but our entire team, for us to be in the office, collaborative and productive,” Zeldin told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing, adding he was “hugely impressed” by the EPA workforce.
Throughout Trump’s first term, career EPA employees derided the political pressure and sidelining they experienced from political appointees. Last year, EPA workers received protections against political interference in their latest union contract.
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