‘Sitting duck’? Meet an EPA environmental justice staffer.
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PEER | June 4, 2025
“People thought I was going to come in like a hammer, basically, for EJ communities,” Rayasam said. “The first thing I would say to literally anybody is ‘You guys have a mountain of work, and I’m just here to try to figure out how to help you get it done. I ...
EPA aims to ease PFAS cleanup costs. Who will pay?
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PEER | May 22, 2025
Chemical companies and business groups with close ties to the administration have pushed back on the prospect of new PFAS regulations, which they say are contrary to the Trump administration’s deregulatory pledges. A slew of industry groups, for example, urged EPA last month to withdraw ...
Group claims EPA bars environmental justice staff from other jobs
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PEER | May 14, 2025
“Our understanding is that employees on administrative leave are denied access to email (where positions are often advertised internally) and hiring systems such as Talent Hub where open position descriptions are posted and through which candidates may apply,” Laura Dumais, staff ...
Former DOGE official cannot legally fire Interior lawyer, group says
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PEER | May 5, 2025
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility says in documents filed with the department last week that Tyler Hassen, a former member of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency who’s now Interior’s acting assistant secretary for policy, management and budget, lacks ...
Interior official who resisted DOGE fights potential firing
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PEER | April 15, 2025
Tim Whitehouse, PEER’s executive director, said Interior is attempting to punish Irish “for doing his job” and that government attorneys should “ask questions to ensure the legitimacy of actions before proceeding.” Whitehouse added in a statement: “The consequences of a ...