US EditionEPA fires 2 at Duluth lab for signing dissent letter
Two EPA employees at the Duluth lab were terminated for signing a dissent letter opposing policy rollbacks; about eight others received termination notices, the agency said.
- On August 29, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fired Alexander Cole and another probationary employee at the Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division Laboratory in Duluth, Minnesota, effective 5:00 p.m.
- On June 30, hundreds of current and former EPA employees signed a Declaration of Dissent criticizing agency policy changes, and Alexander Cole was placed on leave July 3 after signing as the letter warned EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's policies endangered health.
- EPA supervisors said decisions followed a thorough internal investigation, the leave initially meant to last two weeks was extended to nearly two months, and fired employees may appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
- Without the union contract in place, Nicole Cantello warned Tuesday that EPA scientists lack workplace defenders, while the Duluth lab, which employed 176 people, lost about two dozen researchers amid political pushback.
- The dissent coincided with moves to roll back at least 31 regulations while scientists at the Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division Laboratory study impacts using tools covering more than 13,000 chemicals and 14,000 species, and union leaders warn that 'muzzling' staff risks weakening environmental protections.
16 Articles
16 Articles
EPA scientist at Duluth lab says he was fired after signing ‘Declaration of Dissent’
DULUTH, Minn. — Alexander Cole wasn’t surprised when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fired him by email Friday afternoon. The 29-year-old Superior, Wis., resident was among the six employees at the EPA’s Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division Laboratory in Duluth placed on leave July 3 for signing a “Declaration of Dissent” criticizing the Trump administration’s politicization of the agency. The leave period was initially supposed …
Wisconsin biologist is among those fired by EPA after signing dissent letter
A Wisconsin man is among employees fired by the Environmental Protection Agency in recent days after signing a letter opposing the Trump administration’s policies. The post Wisconsin biologist is among those fired by EPA after signing dissent letter appeared first on WPR.
Duluth News Tribune
EPA fires 2 at Duluth lab for signing dissent letter
DULUTH — Alexander Cole wasn’t surprised when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fired him by email Friday afternoon. The 29-year-old Superior resident was among the six employees at the EPA’s Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division Laboratory in Duluth placed on leave July 3 for signing a “Declaration of Dissent" criticizing the Trump administration’s politicization of the agency. The leave period was initially supposed to be two week…
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