Christine Ho, christine.ho@sierraclub.org
Washington, D.C. - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency placed 139 employees who signed onto a letter dissenting the Trump Administration on administrative leave.
In response, Sierra Club Climate Policy Director Patrick Drupp issued the following statement:
“Lee Zeldin is clearly retaliating against staff who had the courage to speak up against his and Donald Trump’s reckless agenda to destroy our environment and endanger the health of Americans. This sets an extremely dangerous precedent for civil servants everywhere who are working to better our country.
“The employees who were placed on leave today took an oath to protect our environment, regardless of who is sitting in the White House. These employees saw the clear threat that Zeldin and Trump pose as they take a sledgehammer to bedrock environmental laws and endanger the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. These are dedicated civil servants who deserve to keep their jobs, and Lee Zeldin must reinstate them immediately.”
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.