EPA Administrator Michael Regan told staff their work will go on as the agency braces for the return of former President Donald Trump.
Regan said in an internal email obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News that any election brings “a mix of emotions,” with some fearing the results while others are hopeful. Trump, who has pledged to dismantle the federal bureaucracy, defeated Vice President Kamala Harris earlier this week to retake the White House.
“I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge those feelings and to remind you of what I know to be certain: the importance of EPA’s mission and the integrity of your work remains unchanged,” Regan said in the email sent Wednesday.
Several EPA staffers are upset over the election’s outcome, considering the tumultuous time they had during the first Trump administration. Some are already planning to retire while others expect the agency will be taken apart by the incoming team.
