Christine Ho, Christine.ho@sierraclub.org
Washington, D.C. - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency issued new guidance that all spending items over $50,000 must be approved by Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency. This would affect routine EPA expenditures to monitor air and water pollution, hazardous waste disposal, and necessary equipment purchases. All of these standard EPA projects will now face additional delays as it awaits DOGE’s approval.
Under Elon Musk—an unelected billionaire—DOGE has already illegally slashed funding at numerous government agencies. Just this week, the Supreme Court ruled that the agency’s decision to pause funds for foreign aid was unconstitutional.
The Sierra Club and its partners sued Elon Musk and DOGE this week for its mass firings and budget cuts at the U.S. National Park Service.
In response, Sierra Club Director of Climate Policy Patrick Drupp issued the following statement:
“No one in this country elected Elon Musk to any public office. It is completely ridiculous that he should have the power to approve or deny the EPA’s spending and have a say at all in how the agency delivers on its mission to protect our communities from pollution and preserve our environment.
“Musk and DOGE care nothing about protecting public health and Lee Zeldin’s decision to hand over the spending authority will only create additional, unnecessary roadblocks and kneecap the EPA’s ability to ensure we are not breathing in deadly toxics and have access to clean drinking water. The EPA must reverse this guidance and allow the agency to operate without needless delays and reckless spending cuts.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.