Agency proposes third postponed retirement option to certain staff members

Agency proposes third postponed retirement option to certain staff members

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a third round of voluntary separation incentives (VSI) for a portion of its workforce, and plans to downsize its office space in the national capital region. This move comes as the EPA faces significant budget cuts and personnel reductions.

Eligible EPA employees can apply for the VSI programme, known as DRP 3.0, starting from this Friday, with applications due by July 25. To be eligible, employees must be at least 50 years old with at least 20 years of service, or have at least 25 years of federal experience at any age. However, public health service officers, consultants, special government employees, credentialed inspectors, Criminal Investigation Division agents, and criminal enforcement counselors are not eligible for the programme.

The EPA is downsizing its office space, moving personnel out of the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, D.C. by this summer. 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 among the units affected by this consolidation.

In addition to the VSI programme, the EPA is also making changes to its workforce. Employees in the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, and regional environmental justice divisions received reduction-in-force notices in April and will be officially separated from the agency on July 31.

The EPA's fiscal 2026 budget proposal calls for a 54% cut to current spending levels, and cutting nearly 1,300 positions from its workforce. 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.

In a separate development, the EPA Administrator, Lee Zeldin, defended the cancellation of environmental justice grants in a press conference at the EPA's headquarters in April. Zeldin also announced the shutting down of the National Environmental Museum, a one-room space located within the agency's headquarters. The museum, which was called a "shrine to environmental justice and climate change" by critics, was criticised for telling an "ideologically slanted, partial story of the EPA."

The U.S. government is treating identity security as a cornerstone of its cybersecurity strategy, embedding it deeply within zero trust architecture frameworks both nationally and at state levels, and promoting updated standards that integrate cutting-edge identity technologies. These efforts collectively strengthen both defensive postures and offensive detection and response capabilities relying on the principle of "never trust, always verify."

Accepted employees can begin administrative leave as soon as Aug. 10 and no later than August 23. Retiring employees must separate from the agency no later than Dec. 30. Other positions related to law enforcement, national security, and public safety may not be allowed to take DRP 3.0 if senior leadership determines their position is critical.

The EPA's Office of Research and Development will be impacted by the consolidation in the Ronald Reagan Building. Public Health Service officers, consultants, and special government employees are not eligible for the EPA's third round of voluntary separation incentives. Credentialed inspectors, Criminal Investigation Division agents, and criminal enforcement counselors are also not eligible for DRP 3.0.

The U.S. government's focus on identity security is reflected in recent federal initiatives and guidance updates that integrate advanced identity technologies as a core security strategy. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalised updated digital identity guidelines after nearly four years, incorporating modern identity technologies such as mobile driver’s licenses, passkeys, account recovery protocols, and defenses against identity spoofing techniques like deepfakes. The government treats identity as a key factor in granting access on a least-privilege, per-session basis, mitigating risks from stolen credentials, ransomware lateral movement, and supply chain threats.

These advancements in identity security are also being integrated with AI and emerging technologies. The federal government is leveraging AI innovations within secure frameworks such as the newly launched USAi platform by the GSA to advance secure AI adoption. Artificial intelligence tools may enhance identity security through behavioral analytics, adaptive authentication, and threat detection, aligning with identity-centric zero trust principles. For example, California’s Cal-Secure initiative reports significant progress toward implementing zero trust technical capabilities and governance in state agencies, emphasising identity security as a foundational element to protect sensitive data from growing cyber threats.

In summary, the U.S. government currently treats identity security as a cornerstone of its cybersecurity strategy, embedding it deeply within zero trust architecture frameworks both nationally and at state levels, and promoting updated standards that integrate cutting-edge identity technologies. These efforts collectively strengthen both defensive postures and offensive detection and response capabilities relying on the principle of "never trust, always verify."

1. Despite the EPA's plans to downsize its office space and implement significant budget cuts, the Office of Research and Development will still be affected by the consolidation, focusing on environmental science and climate-change research, which is essential for personal-finance and business decisions related to the environment and sustainability.
2. The EPA's downsizing and budget cuts have forced the agency to terminate several positions in the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, raising concerns about the future of environmental-science initiatives aimed at addressing climate-change and its impact on people's lives and community finances.
3. As the U.S. government prioritizes identity security in its cybersecurity strategy, it is crucial for the EPA, with its vast troves of environmental research data, to implement secure identity management systems to protect sensitive information from potential threats, safeguarding the public's and businesses' interest in the credibility and privacy of environmental data.

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