News | AFGE Council 238

February 10, 2021 BuzzFeed News

Trump Led An “All-Out Assault” On The EPA. Now Biden Has To Rebuild It.

After four years at the wheel, the Trump administration came closer to taking down the Environmental Protection Agency than many employees thought was possible. On the campaign trail in 2016,…

February 4, 2021 Morning Consult

Op-ed: Fresh Air at EPA and How to Protect It

By Nate James The first days of the Biden administration have given renewed hope to tens of millions of Americans. For many federal workers, the new leadership in Washington is…

February 3, 2021

EPA Union Statment on Senate Confirmation Hearing for EPA Administrator Nominee Michael Regan

"After four years of attacks and hostility from the Trump administration, it was a breath of fresh air to hear EPA Administrator Nominee Regan talk about the Biden administration's bold vision for the EPA at today's hearing.

February 3, 2021 HuffPost

Biden EPA Pick Pledges To Take Swift Action On Climate, Fix Trump-Era Damage

Gary Morton, president of AFGE Council 238, a union that represents thousands of EPA employees, called Regan “a breath of fresh air” after “four years of attacks and hostility from the Trump administration.” “If confirmed, it’s clear that Regan would be committed to the EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment, and would once again put science at the forefront of decision making,” Morton said.

January 30, 2021 Associated Press

Biden Environmental Challenge: Filling Vacant Scientist Jobs

Federal data shows ranks of scientists who carry out environmental research, enforcement and other jobs fell sharply in some agencies under former President Donald Trump.

January 28, 2021

EPA Union Statement on Biden Climate Actions: Full EPA Funding, Staffing Needed to Deliver on Bold Agenda

In response to President Joe Biden’s sweeping executive actions today taking on climate action, Gary Morton, President of AFGE Council 238 — EPA’s largest employees union — released the following statement:

December 4, 2020 The Hill

Federal workers stuck it out with Trump — now, we’re ready to get back to work

After four long years, we’re ready for an administration that understands federal workers are not the enemy — we are the backbone of our country. There is a lot of work to do. EPA workers are up for the challenge and waiting to get started. But first - see us, listen to us, earn our trust. Help us help you.

December 4, 2020 The Hill

EPA union buys subscription after agency canceled contract with news outlet dedicated to covering it

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) largest union is independently subscribing to one of the largest environmental publications, E&E News, after the agency abruptly canceled its subscription in July.

December 4, 2020 Federal News Network

EPA employees fear phase three reopening, declare ‘no confidence’ in agency safety efforts

Several hundred employees at the Environmental Protection Agency announced this week they have “no confidence” in their leadership’s ability to keep them safe from the ongoing pandemic. “We know what things are needed to safely return to an office: Masks, testing and vaccines. All those things are known,” said Brian Kelly, a union representative from EPA’s region 5 in Chicago and the Midwest.

December 4, 2020 E&E News

Union votes ‘no confidence’ on EPA’s reopening plans

American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, which represents about 7,500 EPA employees, said the agency has not addressed concerns about worker safety. The union has pushed to have employees continue teleworking until a safe vaccine is available, but EPA began a phased approach to reopening.