The Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed plans to downsize its workforce, with the latest round of layoffs hitting the agency’s research office. 

The EPA announced Friday afternoon that it was imposing a reduction in force as part of its recent restructuring efforts to consolidate the agency and reduce federal spending. 

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The layoffs are set to affect the Office of Research and Development, the agency’s scientific arm. It has six primary research programs focused on air, climate, and energy; chemical safety for sustainability; health and environmental risk; homeland security; safe and sustainable water resources; and sustainable and healthy communities. 

An EPA spokesperson confirmed that the agency also plans to “eliminate” the office.

This is not the first time the office has been targeted by new leadership within the EPA, as administration officials said in May that all ORD laboratory activities would be ending. 

Some of ORD’s operations will now shift to other offices, including the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions.

It was not immediately clear how many employees would be laid off following the announcement. The agency did say that approximately 16,155 employees worked at the EPA in January. After a previous government-wide fork-in-the-road buyout, voluntary early retirements, and additional layoffs, that number is set to drop to 12,448. 

“Under President [Donald] Trump’s leadership, EPA has taken a close look at our operations to ensure the agency is better equipped than ever to deliver on our core mission of protecting human health and the environment while Powering the Great American Comeback,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said. “This reduction in force will ensure we can better fulfill that mission while being responsible stewards of your hard-earned tax dollars.” 

The agency estimates that the RIF will deliver $748.8 million in savings. 

The layoffs are part of the EPA’s latest efforts to restructure the entire agency. Politico previously reported that the EPA was planning to offer another round of buyouts and early retirements for staff at offices including the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, the Office of Mission Support, and the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. 

Simultaneously, the EPA plans to create several new offices, such as the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions. The agency said this office would prioritize research and science “more than ever before” and “put it at the forefront of rulemaking and technical assistance to states.” 

EPA is also creating a new Office of Finance and Administration to consolidate activities related to financial and administrative operations. 

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Amid the restructuring and new layoffs, some employees fear that the agency is going too far to reduce the workforce. 

“I don’t know what will be left of the EPA,” one career staffer told E&E News.