Agency proposes third delayed resignation option to certain staff members
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a third round of voluntary separation incentives, known as the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) 3.0. This program is part of the agency's ongoing efforts to reorganize and reduce its workforce [1][4][5].
The aim of DRP 3.0 is to streamline EPA’s operations and reduce costs as part of broader organizational changes. Eligible participants include select EPA staff, including those in specific offices such as the standalone science shop and others affected by the agency’s reorganization [1].
Employees who receive RIF notices, probationary employees currently on paid administrative leave, employees who received intent to RIF or intent to reorganize notices, and employees in the Office of Mission Support, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of Research and Development, and regional offices are all eligible to apply for DRP 3.0 [2].
Participants who accept the offer and participate in the DRP will be separated from the agency no later than Nov. 30, but can separate sooner if they prefer. Retiring employees must separate no later than Dec. 31 [2].
The EPA's Office of Research and Development will be impacted by this consolidation. Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Committee is moving ahead with a spending bill that would cut the EPA's current $9.13 billion by 23% next year [6].
Additionally, the EPA is downsizing its office space in the national capital region, moving personnel out of the Ronald Reagan Building by this summer [7]. The agency has also announced the shutdown of the National Environmental Museum [8].
It's worth noting that public health service officers, consultants, special government employees, rehired annuitants, and phased retirees are ineligible for the separation incentives [3]. Credentialed inspectors, Criminal Investigation Division agents, and criminal enforcement counselors are also excluded from DRP 3.0, with other positions related to law enforcement, national security, and public safety potentially being barred if senior leadership deems them critical [2].
Employees in environmental justice positions have received reduction-in-force notices and will be officially separated from the EPA on July 31 [9]. The EPA's fiscal 2026 budget proposal calls for a 54% cut to current spending levels, affecting over 1,300 positions [10].
The EPA administrator, Lee Zeldin, defended the cancellation of environmental justice grants in a press conference at the EPA’s headquarters in April [11]. Zeldin also criticized the National Environmental Museum, calling it a "shrine to environmental justice and climate change" that tells an "ideologically slanted, partial story of the EPA" [8].
[1] https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/third-round-voluntary-separation-incentives [2] https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/deferred-resignation-program-drp-30-fact-sheet [3] https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/separation-incentives-faqs [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/04/14/epa-trump-era-rules-climate-change-science-research/ [5] https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-third-round-voluntary-separation-incentives-epa-workforce [6] https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/house-appropriations-committee-moves-ahead-spending-bill-would-cut-epa-current-913-billion-23 [7] https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-downsizing-its-office-space-national-capital-region [8] https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-shuts-down-national-environmental-museum [9] https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-announces-reduction-force-actions-affecting-approximately-1300-positions [10] https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-fiscal-2026-budget-proposal [11] https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-administrator-leezeldin-defends-cancellation-environmental-justice-grants-press
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is aiming to reorganize its workforce through the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) 3.0, which includes staff from select offices such as the standalone science shop, and those affected by the agency's reorganization, with the goal of streamlining operations and reducing costs.
- Employees in environmental justice positions have been officially separated from the EPA, and the agency's fiscal 2026 budget proposal calls for a significant cut to current spending levels, potentially affecting over 1,300 positions.
- The EPA is emphasizing personal-finance and budgeting aspects of the DRP 3.0, as eligible participants include employees who received RIF notices, those on paid administrative leave, employees who received intent to RIF or intent to reorganize notices, and employees in the Office of Mission Support, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of Research and Development, and regional offices.
- As part of broader organizational changes, the EPA is downsizing its office space in the national capital region and will be moving personnel out of the Ronald Reagan Building by summer, while also announcing the shutdown of the National Environmental Museum.
