Van Hollen, Colleagues Press Administration to Reinstate EPA Employees Retaliated Against for Exercising their Right to Free Speech

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was joined by more than 20 of his Senate colleagues in pressing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to reverse disciplinary actions taken on employees for signing a "Declaration of Dissent" in defense of scientific integrity, whistleblower rights, and constitutional protections last year.

Senator Van Hollen was joined in sending this letter by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).

"In light of recent evidence showing a violation of constitutional and whistleblower rights, we demand that you reverse the firings and disciplinary actions imposed on employees for signing a "Declaration of Dissent" in defense of scientific integrity, whistleblower rights, and constitutional protections," the Senators began.

On the June 30, 2025 "Declaration of Dissent" letter the approximately 270 current and former EPA staff signed, the Senators wrote, "The language of the letter clearly states that the employees were signing in their personal capacity. EPA has not produced any evidence that would indicate that EPA employees used official resources or otherwise were acting in their professional capacity in writing and signing the "Declaration of Dissent," nor has EPA provided a legitimate workplace-related justification for disciplining the signers of the letter that would possibly outweigh employees' free speech rights."

"Even after the recent revelations from EPA legal counsel, EPA continues to retaliate against staff by upholding the suspensions of over 140 workers and the firing of 20 others. Overturning the punishments is crucial to prevent a chilling effect on free speech. Stifling dissent cripples the agency's ability to protect the public and is causing the loss of the experienced staff needed to carry out EPA's mission," they continued.

"Given the lack of any evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever, we support the EPA employees' continued campaign to be exonerated and applaud them for the bravery it took to speak out about these matters of grave public concern. We call on you to reverse course, to reinstate all those who were fired for speaking out, and overturn all other discipline imposed. Speaking the truth is not a fireable offense. It is the public duty of every citizen who cares about protecting our health," the Senators concluded.

A copy of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Administrator Zeldin,

In light of recent evidence showing a violation of constitutional and whistleblower rights, we demand that you reverse the firings and disciplinary actions imposed on employees for signing a "Declaration of Dissent" in defense of scientific integrity, whistleblower rights, and constitutional protections.

On June 30, 2025, approximately 270 current and former EPA staff signed a "Declaration of Dissent" letter acting as private citizens to raise concerns about the abandonment of public health protections and the politicization of science. The language of the letter clearly states that the employees were signing in their personal capacity. EPA has not produced any evidence that would indicate that EPA employees used official resources or otherwise were acting in their professional capacity in writing and signing the "Declaration of Dissent," nor has EPA provided a legitimate workplace-related justification for disciplining the signers of the letter that would possibly outweigh employees' free speech rights. In spite of this, on July 3, 2025, the agency notified approximately 140 signers of the letter that they were under investigation and put on administrative leave until further notice. After 80 days or more on administrative leave, EPA fired 20 EPA workers (including seven on probation) and suspended the rest.

EPA's retaliatory actions against "Declaration of Dissent" signers for commenting on matters of public concern - and doing so outside of their professional capacity - raises First Amendment concerns. It also removes protections for whistleblowers reporting on the reckless abandonment of EPA's core mission, in yet another example of this administration's efforts to undermine our democratic institutions and skirt accountability for illegal actions. The dissent letter criticized several of your policies, including:

• Moving to rescind PFAS "forever chemicals" drinking water standards.

• Dramatically rolling back chemical reporting requirements.

• Cutting research and staff budgets, including for toxicologists and environmental justice initiatives.

Recent documents and internal emails, obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests by E&E News and analyzed by a legal watchdog and the employees union, reveal that EPA ethics staff found no fault in employees signing the dissent letter. In early April, E&E News reported that an EPA personnel lawyer warned EPA political management that disciplining the employees for speaking out would trample their First Amendment rights. EPA leadership pursued discipline anyway. When the legal investigation into these employees failed to produce a valid case, the agency resorted to a vague charge of "Conduct Unbecoming of a Federal Employee" to justify retaliation against an employee for speaking out.

Even after the recent revelations from EPA legal counsel, EPA continues to retaliate against staff by upholding the suspensions of over 140 workers and the firing of 20 others. Overturning the punishments is crucial to prevent a chilling effect on free speech. Stifling dissent cripples the agency's ability to protect the public and is causing the loss of the experienced staff needed to carry out EPA's mission.

Given the lack of any evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever, we support the EPA employees' continued campaign to be exonerated and applaud them for the bravery it took to speak out about these matters of grave public concern. We call on you to reverse course, to reinstate all those who were fired for speaking out, and overturn all other discipline imposed. Speaking the truth is not a fireable offense. It is the public duty of every citizen who cares about protecting our health.