EPA Scientific Publications Plummet Under Trump Administration, New Analysis Reveals

Scientific output from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declined sharply during the Trump administration, according to a new analysis by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), a nonprofit advocating for public employees in environmental professions.

The report, which tracks peer-reviewed publications authored by EPA scientists since 1977, finds that only 61 studies have been published so far in 2026. At the current rate, the agency is projected to publish just 183 articles by the end of the year—a 33% drop from 2025 and a 46% decline compared to 2024.

“These numbers represent a diminution of scientific contributions from the fewer, remaining EPA scientists,” said Kyla Bennett, PEER’s science policy director and a former EPA attorney. “The net result is that the scientific contribution of EPA to a greater understanding of what affects human health and the environment will be diminished.”

If current trends continue, the number of peer-reviewed publications in 2026 will be just over half of what was published in 2025.

Long-Term Research at Risk

Peer-reviewed publications often take years to review and publish, meaning much of the work reflected in these numbers may have begun under previous administrations. However, the decline suggests a shift away from long-term basic research at the agency, according to PEER.

Since President Trump took office, hundreds of EPA scientists have either resigned or been terminated. In one research office, employees were reportedly told to pause publication efforts, halting “millions of dollars of research, potentially,” one anonymous EPA employee told The Washington Post.

Key Policy Changes Under Trump

In February 2026, the EPA finalized plans to eliminate the Office of Research and Development, the agency’s primary research arm. Administrator Lee Zeldin announced its replacement with a new office, the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions, but this new office will not operate as a separate division.

Six EPA scientists who publicly criticized these changes—including the elimination of the research office—were terminated. They have since filed federal claims arguing that their dismissals were illegal retaliation.

Broader Implications for Science Policy

This decline in EPA-led research follows a series of policy shifts under the Trump administration that have reshaped federal science efforts. Earlier analyses by PEER and other groups have highlighted similar trends across agencies, raising concerns about the long-term impact on environmental and public health research.

For more details, see PEER’s full analysis: Sharp Dropoff in EPA Scientific Publications.