The Trump administration is proposing a major shakeup of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development (ORD), which could spell trouble for hundreds of scientists working at the agency’s Research Triangle Park (RTP) campus in North Carolina. With a plan to eliminate up to 75% of ORD staff—potentially 1,155 chemists, biologists, and toxicologists—local leaders and former EPA officials are raising the alarm. The RTP facility, one of the agency’s largest campuses, plays a crucial role in environmental research, including studying pollutants and "forever chemicals." Critics, including former EPA acting deputy administrator Stan Meiburg, say this move is unprecedented and could have lasting impacts. "This is not normal," Meiburg warns, calling it an effort to "destroy the institution." Meanwhile, RTP employees report growing anxiety and fear about their careers and the environmental consequences of these cuts. With no response from GOP senators and mounting concerns from state officials, uncertainty looms over RTP and the future of environmental research in the U.S.

Key Points:

• EPA Shakeup: The Trump administration is aiming to dismantle the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD), cutting up to 75% of its workforce.
• Impact at RTP: The EPA’s Research Triangle Park facility in North Carolina, home to about 1,300 employees, would be heavily affected.
• Loss of Expertise: Up to 1,155 scientists, including chemists, biologists, and toxicologists, could lose their jobs.
• Environmental Concerns: ORD plays a critical role in studying pollution, air quality, and dangerous chemicals like PFAS ("forever chemicals").
• Unprecedented Move: Former EPA acting deputy administrator Stan Meiburg, an industry veteran, says, “This is not normal… an effort to destroy the institution.”
• Local Backlash: Morrisville Mayor T.J. Cawley and state Sen. Jay Chaudhuri condemned the cuts, saying they could drive away top scientific talent from North Carolina.
• Political Silence: North Carolina's GOP senators, Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, did not respond to requests for comment.
• Future Uncertainty: With no communication from EPA leadership, many agency employees are already searching for new jobs.

As the battle over the future of environmental research continues, the fate of the RTP office and its dedicated scientists remains unclear. Stay tuned as we follow this developing story.
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