EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans on May 2, 2025, to cut staff and the agency’s budget significantly, aiming for a return to 1980s levels of staffing and a budget reduction of $300 million in fiscal year 2026, according to Reuters news service.

In 1984, the EPA had just over 11,400 staff members compared to more than 15,100 in 2024.

The reorganization follows weeks of speculation about staff cuts and Zeldin announcing the cancellation of billions of dollars of EPA grants.

Major changes to the agency's structure:

1) shifting scientific research from the Office of Research and Development to different program offices, such as a new office of applied science that would align research with the politically-appointed administrator's policy priorities;

2) dissolving the Office of Science and Technology, which helped develop scientific research and guidelines for water policy;

3) creating an Office of State Air Partnerships within EPA's Office of Air and Radiation that will work with state permitting agencies to resolve permitting concerns and process state plans to meet federal rules; and

4) adding 130 positions to the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention to work on reviewing a backlog of over 504 new chemicals and over 12,000 pesticides.

Issues of cybersecurity, emergency response, and water reuse and conservation will receive increased attention, EPA said.

Also, the White House on Friday, May 2 proposed a FY 2026 budget plan for EPA calling for 54.5% cut to the agency’s budget.

The plan would reduce the EPA’s budget from $9.1 billion to $4.2 billion -- the agency’s smallest budget since 1986, according to agency’s records.

The proposal calls for:

• a $2.46 billion cut for the EPA’s clean and drinking water state revolving loan funds;
• a $1 billion cut in the agency’s categorical grants program;
• $254 million cut in funding for Superfund cleanup;
• $100 million cut for environmental justice;
• $90 million cut for Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grants;
• and $100 million cut from the agency’s atmospheric protection program.

Trump also proposes a $235 million cut from the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, whose staff the Trump administration plans to dramatically reducing, according to a reorganization plan reviewed by House Democrats.

President Trump’s proposal is subject to Congressional approval, and the magnitude of the cuts asked for are likely to be significantly reduced in the long negotiation process.