Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Trump Administration to Reinstate EPA Employees Attacked for Exercising their Right to Free Speech

Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Trump Administration to Reinstate EPA Employees Attacked for Exercising their Right to Free Speech

Senators' effort comes on one-year anniversary of "Declaration of Dissent" letter and follows recent revelations that EPA legal counsel advised against disciplinary action due to employees' First Amendment rights

Washington D.C.-U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump administration to reverse disciplinary actions taken after about 270 current and former Environmental Protection Agency staff signed the "Declaration of Dissent" in defense of scientific integrity, whistleblower rights and constitutional protections last year.

"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 wrote in their letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

"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," the senators continued

"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," the lawmakers 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.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Patty Murray, D-Wash., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., 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..

Full text of the letter is here.