Trump: Environmental Protection Agency eyeing to cut 65% of its staffers

President Donald Trump signaled Wednesday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could face deep staffing reductions as part of his administration’s sweeping federal downsizing efforts.

During his first Cabinet meeting since returning to office, Trump revealed that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is planning to eliminate 65% of the agency’s workforce.

"I spoke with Lee Zeldin, and he expects to cut about 65% of EPA employees," Trump told reporters. "Many weren’t doing their jobs; they were obstructionists. Some didn’t even exist."

The president also suggested the Department of Education could be significantly downsized, reiterating his long-standing belief that education should be handled at the state level. While he has previously considered shutting down the department entirely, such a move would require congressional approval under Article II of the Constitution.

"We’re cutting down government—too much bloat, too much inefficiency," Trump said.

EPA and White House Align on Reforms
An EPA spokesperson confirmed that Trump and Zeldin are "in lockstep" on reforming the agency to make it more cost-effective.

"Compared to 2024, EPA’s budget will be significantly streamlined by cutting wasteful grants, reevaluating office space, and restructuring personnel," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "In his first term, President Trump prioritized environmental stewardship while fostering economic growth, and he’ll continue to do so."

Musk and DOGE Drive Aggressive Government Downsizing
The administration's broader effort to shrink the federal government is being spearheaded by the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

On Wednesday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and acting Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Charles Ezell instructed federal agencies to prepare for "large-scale reductions in force" and submit workforce reduction plans by mid-March.

Musk, who has warned that the U.S. will "go bankrupt" without aggressive cuts, has implemented several measures to identify and eliminate redundant positions.

One such initiative required federal employees to respond to an email detailing five key accomplishments from the past week—a "pulse check review," as Musk called it—by 11:59 p.m. Monday. Those who failed to comply risk termination.

While some agencies advised employees to ignore the directive, Musk vowed that a second round of emails would be sent as DOGE works to eliminate "phantom" employees who remain on the government payroll but do not exist.

Musk emphasized that essential and high-performing employees would be retained, but underperforming staff could face job losses.

The White House reported Tuesday that one million federal workers complied with Musk’s email request and advised employees to seek further guidance from their respective agencies.

This article was reported by journalist Jimmy.