Congressman Castro, Texas Democrats Fight to Protect Clean Air and Drinking Water from Trump-Musk DOGE Agenda
Read Friday’s letter HERE
SAN ANTONIO — On Friday February 14th, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), and eleven of their Democratic colleagues from the Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana delegations sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin demanding that the Trump administration reverse the illegal firing of hundreds of EPA employees who perform critical and nonpartisan work to protect clean air and drinking water.
Last Friday, the EPA terminated nearly 400 employees, in addition to nearly 200 employees who were previously placed on administrative leave because of their work on environmental justice projects.
“Reports indicate that EPA staff members have received emails informing them of possible immediate dismissal because of their probationary status related to their introductory period in their position. The probationary staff includes grant managers, inspectors, enforcement officers, attorneys, on-scene coordinators, permit reviewers, and emergency response personnel. We are deeply concerned about the negative impacts such terminations— done across the board without consideration for positional need or programmatic impact—would have on the agency’s ability to protect public health and the environment in Region 6 and across the nation,” the members wrote.
“Though they are probationary, many of these employees are long-standing federal workers and subject matter experts with experience vital to running the EPA effectively and efficiently. They perform critical functions protecting Americans from dangers related to pesticides, waste management, chemical control, air pollution, and ground and drinking water. They are essential to the EPA’s mission and the well-being of our constituents,” the members continued.
The letter was additionally signed by Reps. Al Green (TX-09), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Sylvester Turner (TX-18), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Troy Carter (LA-02), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), and Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03).
Congressman Castro has been a longtime advocate for environmental protections that support the health and well-being of Texas families. He maintains a 96% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters for his environmental work, including:
- Securing Congressional authorization for a full ecosystem restoration of Martinez Creek on San Antonio’s Westside to revitalize the natural ecosystem in a historically underresourced part of the city.
- Securing nearly $6 million for San Antonio Independent School District to purchase 15 low- and zero-emission school buses that will reduce air pollution and improve air quality.
- Supporting key measures to expand access to environmental restoration programs around military bases to ensure that all communities have equal access to funding and resources to clean up pollution from PFAS “forever chemical” contamination.
- Championing legislation to prohibit new oil and gas leases on federal lands with high concentration of existing orphaned oil and gas wells.
- Holding the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) accountable for basic environmental protections as it applies for Class VI Safe Drinking Water Act permits.