Joanna Citron Day, general counsel for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said Nichols’ analysis that the letter was protected speech is “a stunning admission” by the agency.
“It is disheartening. It is shocking. It is horrific,” Citron Day said. “It is our government being turned against us and firing people for exercising their constitutional rights.”
PEER is part of the legal team representing six former EPA employees who were fired after they signed the letter. They filed an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board last December, which remains ongoing, Citron Day said.