The Trump administration has dismantled the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, slashing a 150‑year legacy of environmental science. More than 1,500 scientists have been reassigned or laid off, leaving only 124 researchers to operate under new oversight.

The shift follows a memo demanding that remaining studies “align with agency and administration priorities.” Researchers now report to Trump appointees or directly to Administrator Lee Zeldin, stripping the unit of its historic independence.

This move threatens the agency’s ability to set evidence‑based limits on pollution and toxic chemicals. Without an autonomous science arm, regulatory decisions may rely more on political targets than on rigorous data, potentially weakening environmental protections.

The agency’s future research agenda will hinge on the new hierarchy, raising questions about the integrity of forthcoming environmental policies.