1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) workers who signed the "Declaration of Dissent" letter to Administrator Lee Zeldin were exercising their constitutional right to free speech. By putting 139 of these workers under investigation and on paid administrative leave, the EPA is retaliating against employees for voicing their concerns about harmful deregulation and the agency's disregard for scientific expertise. This action undermines the EPA's integrity as a trusted scientific authority and hinders its ability to fulfill its core mission of protecting public health and the environment. Instead of penalizing dedicated public servants, the EPA should reconsider the policies that prompted widespread dissent among its workforce. Investigating and silencing those who raise substantive objections is counterproductive and unacceptable in a democratic society. The administration must uphold employees' free speech rights and address the legitimate issues they have raised about the EPA's current direction.