Chicago Epa Workers Placed on Leave, Targeted for Political Retaliation After Signing Letter of Dissent (Chicago, IL) – (Thursday, July 3, 2025) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) workers in Chicago and across the country were placed on administrative leave on Thursday after signing a letter of dissent against Trump administration efforts to politicize the agency.
144 EPA workers across the country, and at least 31 in Chicago’s Region 5 headquarters, received notice they were being placed on leave Thursday morning. In Chicago, workers were escorted out of the office by Department of Homeland Security officers.
“I am proud to have signed the letter declaring that I dissent against the Trump administration’s irresponsible policies that have undermined our ability to fulfil our mission of protecting human health and the environment,” said one EPA employee and member of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704 who was placed on leave and escorted out of Region 5 headquarters on Thursday. “We will not be silent in the face of these efforts that endanger the Americans we are sworn to protect.”
“This is an act of blatant political retailiation–pure and simple,” said Nicole Cantello, AFGE Local 704 President, who represents some 1000 EPA employees in 6 Midwestern states. “My message to EPA Administrator Zeldin is this: EPA employees have the right to freedom of speech just like everyone else. We’ll see you in court.”
Cantello said the union plans to take action to protect EPA workers from these retaliatory acts.
Chicago Epa Workers Placed on Leave, Targeted for Political Retaliation After Signing Letter of Dissent
