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EPA shutters its scientific research arm, with hundreds expected to be impacted
EPA shutters its scientific research arm, with hundreds expected to be impacted

Yahoo

time9 hours ago

  • Business
  • Yahoo

EPA shutters its scientific research arm, with hundreds expected to be impacted

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday afternoon that it is eliminating its scientific division, known as the Office of Research and Development. The move to shutter the ORD comes one day after the agency said it was undergoing a reorganization involving several other EPA divisions. ORD conducts critical research to "safeguard human health and ecosystems from environmental pollutants," according to its website. More than 1,500 employees, including scientists and researchers, are dispersed across the country at 11 different locations, but the bulk are based at the EPA's headquarters in Washington, D.C., and at a large scientific facility in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Eliminating the office will bring $748.8 million in savings, according to a news release from the agency. The EPA had 16,155 employees back in January 2025, but following voluntary retirements, dismissals, and other reduction in force (RIF) actions, it is now down to 12,488 employees, the agency said in its release Friday, a reduction of about 22% of its staff. The staffing cuts include 3,201 employees who took the Trump administration's so-called "Fork in the Road" deferred resignation program, as well as those who took early retirement. "Under President Trump's leadership, EPA has taken a close look at our operations to ensure the agency is better equipped than ever to deliver on our core mission of protecting human health and the environment while Powering the Great American Comeback," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement Friday. "This reduction in force will ensure we can better fulfill that mission while being responsible stewards of your hard-earned tax dollars." It was anticipated that ORD would be impacted, according to earlier documents that outlined the agency's RIF plans. Back in March, the documents indicated that somewhere between 50% to 75% of ORD employees would not be retained, the majority of them leading scientists in their field of research. A source inside ORD told CBS News Friday that employees found out about the reduction in force via the press release that was sent out to the public, and has not received any formal communication from the agency about what will happen next. "A friend texted me the press release," the source told CBS News, "that is how I found out." According to the source, most employees are anxiously checking their email, waiting to see if they'll be reassigned to another program office, or impacted by the reduction. Some ORD employees have already received notification that they have been reassigned, while most wait to learn their fate. In May, ORD employees were told they would be contacted by other programs inside the agency to discuss potential, lateral moves. But according to the source, it now appears that impacted individuals won't get much of a choice: either take the reassignment if one is offered, or leave the agency. "I don't think I can stay in the U.S.," one source told CBS News, "there are no jobs here." Because of cuts to the federal workforce and cuts to scientific research, there are very few scientific positions available in the U.S., and some are now contemplating work abroad. "Today's cuts dismantle one of the world's most respected environmental health research organizations," said Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, former EPA principal deputy assistant administrator for science, in a statement. "EPA's science office has long been recognized internationally for advancing public health protections through rigorous science. Reducing its workforce under the guise of cost savings is both misleading and dangerous. This does not save taxpayers money; it simply shifts costs to hospitals, families and communities left to bear the health and economic consequences of increased pollution and weakened oversight. The people of this country are not well served by these actions. They are left more vulnerable." The ORD's research touches on a range of issues from PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals," to water-bourne diseases, soot in the air, and environmental factors that contribute to childhood asthma, Orme-Zavaleta said. It is made up of six major research program offices, per its website, that include Air, Climate, and Energy, Chemical Safety for Sustainability, Health and Environmental Risk Assessment, Homeland Security, Safe and Sustainable Water Resources and Sustainable and Healthy Communities. It also includes four major research labs including the Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), the Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (CEMM), the Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER) and the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA). Wall Street Journal reports Trump sent "bawdy" birthday letter to Epstein, Trump threatens to sue Medical expert on Trump's chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis Americans on whether the U.S. should return to the moon, travel to Mars Solve the daily Crossword

Trump administration fires 17 immigration court judges across 10 states, union says
Trump administration fires 17 immigration court judges across 10 states, union says

Boston Globe

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • Boston Globe

Trump administration fires 17 immigration court judges across 10 states, union says

Advertisement Firings come with courts at the center of administration efforts The firings come as the courts have been increasingly at the center of the Trump administration's hardline immigration enforcement efforts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arresting immigrants as they appear at court for proceedings. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up A spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Immigration Review, which is the part of the Justice Department that oversees the courts, said in an email that the office would not comment on the firings. The large-scale arrests began in May and have unleashed fear among asylum-seekers and immigrants appearing in court. In what has become a familiar scene, a judge will grant a government lawyer's request to dismiss deportation proceedings against an immigrant. Meanwhile, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are waiting in the hallway to arrest the person and put them on a fast track to deportation as soon as he or she leaves the courtroom. Advertisement Immigration court judges are also dealing with a massive backlog of roughly 3.5 million cases that ballooned in recent years. Cases can take years to weave their way to a final determination, with judges and lawyers frequently scheduling final hearings on the merits of a case over a year out. Unlike criminal courts, immigrants don't have the right to a lawyer, and if they can't afford one they represent themselves — often using an interpreter to make their case. Courts are getting a cash infusion Under recently passed legislation that will use $170 billion to supercharge immigration enforcement, the courts are set to get an infusion of $3.3 billion. That will go toward raising the number of judges to 800 and hiring more staff to support them. But the union said that since the Trump administration took office over 103 judges have either been fired or voluntarily left after taking what was dubbed the 'Fork in the Road' offers at the beginning of the administration. The union said that rather than speeding up the immigration court process, the Justice Department's firings would actually make the backlogs worse. The union said that it can take as long as a year to recruit, hire and train new immigration court judges. There are currently about 600 judges, according to the union figures. Immigration courts fall under the Justice Department.

State Department informs workforce of 'targeted reduction' in coming days

time10-07-2025

  • Politics

State Department informs workforce of 'targeted reduction' in coming days

The State Department plans to release a letter to all employees Thursday evening informing them that the department is officially moving to implement a 'targeted reduction in domestic workforce.' 'Soon, the Department will be communicating to individuals affected by the reduction in force. First and foremost, we want to thank them for their dedication and service to the United States,' the letter, signed by Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael Rigas, reads. The letter advises that once these notifications have taken place, the department will go into the 'final stage' of reorganization, where the new organizational chart unveiled by Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in the year will fully take effect. Senior State Department officials described the changes as 'the most complicated reorganization in government history,' emphasizing that the cuts were largely made to eliminate Cold War-era redundancies as well as eliminating functions that were 'no longer aligned with the president's foreign policy priorities.' 'At the end of the day, we have to do what's right for the mission,' one senior official said. 'There's a tremendous amount of sort of unnecessary bureaucracy,' the second official asserted. The State Department previously reported to Congress that it would aim to reduce its domestic workforce by around 15% as part of the reorganization. However, the senior officials specified that more than half of that goal would be met through 'voluntary reductions' -- people who elected to take the deferred resignation plan offered through the "Fork in the Road' emails earlier this year. The officials also said the department did not have current plans to reduce its force overseas. 'The secretary wants to take this one step at a time,' one official said. The officials also defended the department's decision to cut some highly trained foreign service officers rather than reassign them.

Court date set for appeal of €550k award to man unfairly dismissed by Elon Musk's X
Court date set for appeal of €550k award to man unfairly dismissed by Elon Musk's X

Irish Independent

time18-06-2025

  • Business
  • Irish Independent

Court date set for appeal of €550k award to man unfairly dismissed by Elon Musk's X

Home > Business > Irish Business Former executive did not respond to new CEO's 'Fork in the Road' email Elon Musk, owner of the X social media platform. Photo: Reuters In the ruling last August, Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adjudicator Michael MacNamee found that Twitter International UC – since renamed X Internet Unlimited Company – unfairly dismissed a former company executive Gary Rooney in December 2022. It came after he failed to respond to Mr Musk's 'Fork in the Road' email which was sent to all employees following the billionaire's takeover of the firm. Mr Rooney has yet to receive any of the monies as the case is before the Labour Court on appeal from Twitter International UC. Solicitor for Mr Rooney, Barry Kenny of Kenny Sullivan Solicitors in Bray, confirmed the case 'is listed for hearing in the Labour Court on July 29 for three days'. Mr Kenny said: 'My client is anxious to put all this behind him. The WRC determined that X's treatment of him as a long-standing and loyal employee amounted to an unfair dismissal. Mr Rooney is anxious that the Labour Court will affirm this decision. 'Mr Rooney is also hopeful that the claim under the Payment of Wages Act and his loss of income arising due to the fact that he was unfairly dismissed is also affirmed. 'It is open to the Labour Court to increase or reduce sums awarded in the WRC as it will be a de novo hearing. 'X have advised that they intend to call at least three witnesses. Some or all of them may be giving evidence remotely from the USA. Mr Rooney is the only witness in his own case.' At the WRC, Twitter International UC fully contested Mr Rooney's claim over five days of hearing, contending that he had resigned voluntarily. In his findings, Mr MacNamee found that Mr Rooney was dismissed because he did not click 'yes' to Mr Musk's 'Fork in the Road' email on November 16, 2022, and for that reason alone. Mr Musk said: 'If you are sure that you want to be part of the new Twitter, please click yes on the link below.' After Mr Rooney opted not to click 'yes', three days later on November 19, 2022, he received a further company email which stated that it is 'to acknowledge your decision to resign and accept the voluntary separation offer'. On November 26, 2022, Mr Rooney – who began working with the company in 2013 – emailed his employer to outline 'that at no time have I indicated to Twitter that I am resigning my position'. In evidence, Mr Rooney told the WRC that before the change of ownership, he loved his job. On receiving Mr Musk's 'Fork in the Road' email, Mr Rooney told the hearing that his first reaction was disbelief and he was initially afraid to open it for fear that it was spam or malware. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news Elon Musk X (formerly Twitter)

3 days set aside for X to appeal Irish worker's record €550k unfair dismissal
3 days set aside for X to appeal Irish worker's record €550k unfair dismissal

Irish Daily Mirror

time17-06-2025

  • Business
  • Irish Daily Mirror

3 days set aside for X to appeal Irish worker's record €550k unfair dismissal

The Labour Court has set aside three days at the end of next month to hear Elon Musk's X appeal against a ruling that it must pay out an Irish record unfair dismissal award of €550,131 to a former executive. In the ruling last August, Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Adjudicator Michael MacNamee found that Twitter International UC - since renamed X Internet Unlimited Company - unfairly dismissed the company's former Director Source to Pay, Gary Rooney in December 2022 after he failed to respond to Elon Musk's 'Fork in the Road' email. Mr Rooney has yet to receive any of the monies as the case is before the Labour Court on appeal from Twitter International UC. On Tuesday, solicitor for Mr Rooney, Barry Kenny of Kenny Sullivan Solicitors in Bray, confirmed that the case 'is listed for hearing in the Labour Court on July 29 for three days'. Mr Kenny said: 'My client is anxious to put all this all behind him.' He said: 'The WRC determined that X's treatment of him as a long standing and loyal employee amounted to an unfair dismissal. Mr Rooney is anxious that the Labour Court will affirm this decision.' He said: 'Mr Rooney is also hopeful that the claim under the Payment of Wages Act and his loss of income arising due to the fact that he was unfairly dismissed is also affirmed.' Mr Kenny said: 'It is open to the Labour Court to increase or reduce sums awarded in the WRC as it will be a De Novo hearing.' He said that "X have advised that they intend to call at least three witnesses, some or all of them may be giving evidence remotely from the USA". He added that "Mr Rooney is the only witness in his own case". At the WRC, Twitter International UC fully contested Mr Rooney's claim over five days of hearing contending that he had resigned voluntarily. In his findings, Mr MacNamee found that Mr Rooney was dismissed because he did not click 'yes' to Elon Musk's 'Fork in the Road' email on November 16, 2022 and for that reason alone. On November 16, 2022, Mr Rooney and the Twitter workforce received an email from Mr Musk, who said: 'To build a breakthrough Twitter 2.0 and succeed in an increasingly competitive world, we will need to be extremely hardcore. This will mean working long hours at high intensity. Only exceptional performance will constitute a passing a grade." Mr Musk said: 'If you are sure that you want to be part of the new Twitter, please click yes on the link below.' After Mr Rooney opted not to click 'yes' on the link, three days later on November 19, 2022, he received a further company email which stated that it is 'to acknowledge your decision to resign and accept the voluntary separation offer'. On November 26, 2022, Mr Rooney - who had been with the company since 2013 - emailed his employer to outline 'that at no time have I indicated to Twitter that I am resigning my position, nor have I seen any separation agreement let alone accepted one'. In evidence, Mr Rooney told the WRC that prior to the change of ownership, he loved his job. On receiving Mr Musk's 'Fork in the Road' email, Mr Rooney said his first reaction was disbelief and he was initially afraid even to open it for fear that it was spam or malware. Twitter International UC's Senior Director of Human Resources, Ms. Lauren Wegman, told the hearing that Mr Musk's 'Fork in the Road' email was sent to 270 employees in Ireland, which was the balance of workers not affected by redundancies, and 235 clicked 'yes'. In relation to the remaining 35 employees, Ms. Wegman said: 'We accepted their resignations.' Ms Wegman said the mood amongst workers at the time was mixed, with some excited about 'Twitter 2.0' while others were more negative and wanted out of the company. The record €550,131 award was made up of Mr Rooney's remuneration losses of €350,131 from January 2023 to May 2024 and estimated future remuneration losses of €200,000. The remuneration losses were based on Mr Rooney's Twitter remuneration of €323,560, made up of €151,225 in pay and €172,335 in deferred cash consideration. Mr Rooney secured a new role with an employer in the banking sector in September 2023 on total remuneration of €129,897.

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