EPA campus in RTP houses bulk of research staff
DURHAM, NC (March 18, 2025) — Today, Congresswomen Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Deborah Ross (NC-02), and Zoe Logren (CA-18), Ranking Members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, slammed the Trump administration’s plan to cut as many as 1,155 scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD). ORD has a major research facility in Research Triangle Park (RTP). More than 2,000 full-time federal employees work at the RTP EPA campus, and it is the largest EPA facility in the nation.
“The Trump Administration’s plan to dissolve the EPA’s Office of Research and Development and lay-off over 1,000 scientists is yet another step in their scheme to fully gut this agency. The Office of Research and Development is vital to understanding and addressing environmental risks, and gutting its workforce hinders our ability to properly address and react to these risks,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee. “North Carolina’s Fourth District has long been at the forefront of the EPA’s critical work to ensure proper research and regulations are in place to deliver clean air, water, and land for all Americans, and these workforce cuts will be felt throughout our region. Alongside my House Democrat colleagues in North Carolina, and on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I will continue to pursue all legislative avenues and support judicial challenges to block these constitutionally dubious cuts.”
“Scientific researchers at EPA have dedicated their careers to serving the American people and solving some of our most complex environmental problems,” said Congresswoman Deborah Ross. “In North Carolina, these committed federal employees are helping us combat PFAS contamination, address air quality, and more. As Ranking Member of the Energy Subcommittee and a member of the Environment Subcommittee on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I will work with my colleagues to find solutions to help mitigate the fallout from this disastrous decision. Eliminating EPA’s research arm will put people and our environment in danger.”
“EPA’s Office of Research and Development is in statute. Eliminating it is illegal. Every decision EPA makes must be in furtherance of protecting human health and the environment, and that just can’t happen if you gut EPA science,” said Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren.“Last time around, Trump and his cronies politicized and distorted science – they knew the value of ORD, and they sought to weaken it. Now, this is their attempt to kill it for good. EPA cannot meet its legal obligation to use the best available science without ORD, and that’s the point. Donald Trump and Elon Musk are putting their polluter buddies’ bottom lines over the health and safety of Americans.”