Trump banned our union and contract at EPA. Sign this action network to get Congress to reverse it! Protect EPA Workers: Bring PAWA to the House and Senate Floor
Declaration of Dissent
Read EPA Staff’s Declaration of Dissent.
The letter directly addresses the new Administrator Lee Zeldin with FIVE CONCERNS and invites him to “change course by re-committing to his oath to protect the health of the American people and our environment.”
Add your signature in solidarity. Let’s make our voices heard!
Reconciliation Bill
The Reconciliation Bill now moves from the House to the Senate. And last week, EPA released this budget which cuts funding for enforcement at EPA by 50% and overall funding by 55%! The House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which includes provisions to (i) eliminate the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity supplement, and (ii) forcing employees to choose between at-will employment or an additional 5% increase in contributions toward FERS, essentially an additional 5% pay cut, and (iii) charging a fee for appeals to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Elimination of the FERS annuity supplement is applicable to those starting their entitlement on or after 1/1/28, clawing back earned and vested retirement benefits based on past work history.
Your actions have been successful in removing previous provisions of the bill. The Oversight and Government Reform Committee Print included provisions to (i) increase employee contributions toward retirement without any increase in benefits, and (ii) base retirements on the highest five years of salary rather than the highest three years (as of 1/1/27). Both of those were stricken prior to House floor consideration.
You still have time to push to fight the EPA budget cut and remove the rest of the objectionable provisions. NOW is the time to act. Make your voice heard, and tell your representatives and senators to oppose cuts to EPA’s funding and your earned federal retirement and health benefits! Please call your senators and GOP senators to oppose the unprecedented cuts to EPA and federal benefits. Also, if you have any friends and family in states with Republican senators, have them make calls as constituents. To do so, dial (202) 224-3121 to go through the Senate switchboard. The Senate has set July 4th as the deadline for passing the bill so call TODAY!
Script:
Hello, my name is _____________, a AFGE Local 704 member representing EPA workers covering your state. I am calling you today to let you know that I am very concerned about proposals to cut federal benefits and the cut to EPA’s budget by 50%! I know the valuable work that civilian federal workers do for America each and every day. EPA protects human health and the environment. Americans rely on EPA to provide them with clean air and water. Slashing federal employees’ benefits and starving agencies of the resources and personnel they need to complete their missions will only serve to harm the people of our state. I am asking SENATOR _________ to stand with federal workers to oppose cuts to EPA and reject any proposal that uses federal employees pay and benefits as an offset for tax cuts to the wealthy. Thank you for your time.”