After climate-denier-for-hire Lee Zeldin was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency with the backing of all Republicans plus Arizona’s Democratic senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego and John Fetterman (D-Pa.), over 1,100 EPA employees were told they would soon be fired. More than 300 career staff have already left. Musk lieutenant Gautier Cole Killian is now inside the EPA.
On Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 2:30PM ET, Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), climate and environmental advocates, union workers, and members of Congress will hold a rally and press conference outside the Environmental Protection Agency to demand that the Trump administration end its unlawful cut-off of funding to Environmental Protection Agency programs for clean air, clean water, and climate action that were authorized and appropriated by Congress.
Despite court orders requiring the restart of funding, Trump administration officials have failed to release money for Inflation Reduction Act and clean school bus programs as required by law—leaving communities without resources to fight dangerous pollution. While this unconstitutional funding seizure is taking place, unelected billionaire Elon Musk has taken over the federal government in order to target the EPA employees who keep our communities safe.
At this press conference, lawmakers, workers, and advocates will highlight programs still affected by illegal funding cut-offs and attacks on our democracy, as well as demand that Musk cease his baseless attacks on the EPA’s work to tackle pollution and protect public health and the environment.