US EditionEPA Staffers Challenge Their Terminations over ‘Dissent’ Letter
The six former EPA employees claim their firings were retaliatory for exercising First Amendment rights after signing a dissent letter against agency politicization, representing a minority of signatories.
- On Wednesday, six former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency employees filed First Amendment challenges to their firings before the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, appealing what they call unlawful removals.
- Organized as a 'declaration of dissent,' the June 30th letter was signed by approximately 160 EPA employees protesting politicization of science and warning that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and the Trump administration were recklessly undermining the agency's mission.
- An EPA investigation produced termination notices for at least eight probationary and nine tenured employees, with dozens suspended for two weeks, according to AFGE Council 238 and Justin Chen.
- Counsel for the fired employees, including Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and multiple law firms, argue their terminations violated the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and seek full reinstatement and full back pay.
- Ted Yackulic, who worked at EPA for nearly 36 years, was asked to leave on July 3 and fired Oct. 4 amid EPA collective bargaining agreements cancellation and 300,000 federal civil servants layoffs.
15 Articles
15 Articles
The spokesman-Review
union-bulletin.comFormer EPA lawyer based in Seattle fights Trump-related firing
A former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency attorney who was based in Seattle is among those challenging their firings for signing a letter critical of the Trump administration.Ted Yackulic worked for the EPA for nearly 36 years and focused on ensuring polluters paid for environmental cleanup. He would help write orders and negotiate agreements to clean up some of the Northwest’s most polluted places.This summer, he and more than 150 of his co…
‘Truth is not a fireable offense’: Rebel ex-federal staffers hit back at Trump's ousters
Six former employees of the US Environmental Protection Agency filed a First Amendment challenge in court on Wednesday to their firing earlier this year for criticizing the Trump administration’s environmental policies.The employees were among 160 who were fired shortly after signing a “declaration ...
Fired EPA employees challenge agency, alleging free speech violations
Former Environmental Protection Agency employees who were fired after signing a letter criticizing the Trump administration are now appealing their dismissals before the Merit Systems Protection Board. The six former EPA employees, who were among roughly 140 workers who signed a “declaration of dissent” in June, argued their firings were not only an illegal response to exercising their First Amendment rights, but also a form of retaliation for “…
EPA staffers challenge their terminations over ‘dissent’ letter
Former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees are challenging their terminations after they signed a letter criticizing the Trump administration. Six staffers who the Trump administration fired after they signed a “Declaration of Dissent” letter have filed claims with the Merit Systems Protection Board, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), which is helping to represent the ex-employees.…
Common Dreams
New Movies & TV Shows, Trailers & ReviewsEPA Employees Challenge Firings for Signing Dissent Letter
Today, six former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees filed First Amendment legal challenges to their recent firings for signing a letter of dissent. The six employees were among approximately 160 EPA employees who publicly signed a June 30th open letter to Administrator Lee Zeldin and members of Congress protesting the politization of science at EPA and warning that EPA’s actions under this administration were endangering publi…
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