PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Seven Philadelphia-based Environmental Protection Agency employees are among at least 139 across the nation who were suspended after signing a letter expressing their concerns about policies under the Trump administration. On Wednesday, local union leaders rallied in Center City in support of the affected employees.
The employees signed what union officials describe as a "letter of dissent" that questioned the agency’s direction under EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. The letter, released publicly on June 30, gathered over 600 signatures.
In a statement Thursday, the EPA said it has a “zero-tolerance policy for career bureaucrats unlawfully undermining, sabotaging, and undercutting” the Trump administration’s agenda.
Local union leaders said the letter was respectful and protected speech. Brad Starnes, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 3631, said the disciplinary action appears intended to intimidate workers.
“It has struck fear in those who have witnessed this and have not been put on admin,” said Starnes. “I've spoken to individuals and they've told me they'll be reticent about doing anything that they feel might seem as pushback to the administration. That's chilling in the union's eyes.”
Joyce Howell, executive vice president of the union chapter, said the letter raised specific concerns about what workers viewed as a shift away from the agency’s mission.
“The letter asked the administrator to redirect EPA towards our mission of human health and the environment, and pointed out some specific things that were taking us off course,” said Howell.
The employees were placed on “temporary, non-duty, paid status” for two weeks pending an administrative investigation, according to an email obtained by the Associated Press.
Starnes called the suspensions a form of retaliation.
“Lee Zeldin didn’t have to like any of it," said Starnes. "I characterize it as a retaliation with the purpose of striking fear, and this is sort of consistent with, unfortunately, the environment that is the federal government in general, but especially here at EPA.”