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Seven fired EPA employees sue agency over their terminations
Federal News Network • • nation
Key Points:
- Seven former EPA employees have filed new lawsuits alleging their 2025 terminations violated their First Amendment rights after signing a letter critical of the Trump administration’s EPA policies.
- These employees were in their probationary periods when fired, preventing them from appealing through the Merit Systems Protection Board, unlike other affected EPA workers.
- The lawsuits coincide with the first anniversary of a “declaration of dissent” signed by hundreds of EPA staff criticizing Administrator Lee Zeldin’s policies for undermining science and public trust, which led to suspensions and terminations.
- Supporters, including 21 Senate Democrats and advocacy groups, argue that the employees’ off-duty speech is constitutionally protected and call for reinstatement and removal of adverse actions to prevent a chilling effect on free speech.
- EPA has not yet responded to requests for comment on the new legal challenges.
