1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I am writing to express my alarm over recent actions to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency’s scientific research division. Eliminating this essential public health infrastructure will endanger the lives of tens of thousands of Americans and must be stopped immediately. The EPA’s Office of Research and Development plays a vital role in studying toxic chemicals, air and water pollution, wildfire risks, and environmental health hazards. Shutting down this division effectively silences the scientific expertise needed to protect the public from deadly pollutants and environmental disasters. Fine particulate matter, for example, contributes to tens of thousands of premature deaths annually. Without federally supported research into these pollutants, our communities will lack the data, regulation, and warnings necessary to prevent mass harm. Closing the EPA’s research capacity would make our air dirtier, our water less safe, and our government less prepared to protect us. This move would result in a 65% budget cut, a 23% workforce reduction, and the elimination of programs dedicated to environmental justice and climate science. These aren’t just bureaucratic numbers—they represent the gutting of life-saving systems that protect families, children, and vulnerable populations across the country. No nation can afford to make decisions in the dark, especially when the health of its people is at stake. Removing scientific insight from environmental policy is not just reckless—it’s a threat to public safety and a denial of our government’s responsibility to serve its people. I urge you to: Oppose any legislation or executive actions that dismantle EPA science. Demand accountability for decisions that endanger public health. Protect EPA funding and ensure continued support for environmental research and oversight. Tens of thousands of lives could be lost because of political decisions that ignore science and human cost. Please act now to prevent a catastrophe we already know how to avoid.