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SOT Statement on the Elimination of the US EPA Office of Research and Development

By James Luyendyk posted 07-21-2025 12:00 AM

  

The SOT 2025–2026 Presidential Chain has released the following statement following the US EPA announcement regarding a reduction in force that will eliminate the US EPA/ORD.

In March 2025, there were reports that the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) planned to eliminate the Office of Research and Development (US EPA/ORD). Sadly, those reports became reality on Friday with the US EPA announcing a reduction in force that will eliminate the US EPA/ORD1. 

As SOT stated in March2, “Without the efforts of the US EPA/ORD, public health concerns such as air and water quality could be drastically affected. There would be a reduced understanding of the risk of toxic chemicals. The ability of the US to respond to disasters, both natural and man-made, would be hindered without the cumulative research and assessments conducted by the US EPA/ORD. In short, the repercussions of the proposed plan could be far-reaching.” 

Those sentiments hold true today. The US EPA/ORD is the linchpin of the Agency’s mission “to protect human health and the environment,” which makes its elimination unconscionable. The US EPA/ORD conducts vital research that safeguards public, animal, and environmental health. This work informs regulations at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels—helping protect the health and well-being of communities nationwide. Scientists also depend on the data, tools, and findings produced by US EPA/ORD to support and strengthen their own research. 

While we acknowledge that the US EPA has announced plans3 to create a new “Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES) in the Office of the Administrator to align research and put science at the forefront of the agency’s rulemakings and technical assistance to states,” that essentially recapitulates the purpose of US EPA/ORD as indicated on the Agency’s website4—“The Office of Research and Development (ORD) is the scientific research arm of EPA. Its leading-edge research informs Agency decisions and supports the emerging needs of EPA stakeholders, including the Agency’s state, tribal, and community partners. ... ORD conducts the research for EPA that provides the foundation for credible decision-making to safeguard human health and ecosystems from environmental pollutants.” The Agency has failed to elaborate on its plans concerning OASES.   

As an organization committed to “creating a safer and healthier world5,” SOT is disheartened by the loss of the dedicated scientists, technicians, regulators, and others at the US EPA/ORD that contributed substantially to these efforts across decades. 

References

  1. US Environmental Protection Agency. 2025. “EPA Announces Reduction in Force, Reorganization Efforts to Save Taxpayers Nearly Three-Quarters of a Billion Dollars.” Last updated July 18, 2025. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-reduction-force-reorganization-efforts-save-taxpayers-nearly-three
  2. SOT Presidential Chain. 2025. “SOT Statement in Support of Science.” Society of Toxicology (SOT). Last updated March 18, 2025. https://www.toxicology.org/about/docs/2025-0318-SOT-Statement-in-Support-of-Science.pdf
  3. US Environmental Protection Agency. 2025. “EPA Announces Next Phase of Organizational Improvements to Better Integrate Science into Agency Offices, Deliver Clean Air, Land, and Water to All Americans.” Last updated May 2, 2025. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-next-phase-organizational-improvements-better-integrate-science-agency
  4. US Environmental Protection Agency. 2025. “About the Office of Research and Development (ORD).” Last updated April 21, 2025. https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-research-and-development-ord
  5. Society of Toxicology (SOT). 2025. “Mission & Principles.” Accessed on July 21, 2025. https://www.toxicology.org/about/sa/mission.asp
3 comments
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Comments

Christine Curran
07-31-2025 11:24 AM

As someone who remembers what life in Cleveland, OH was like before we had an EPA and who would never have completed her PhD dissertation without the assistance of EPA scientists in Cincinnati, I want to thank SOT leadership for their willingness to take a public stand on the importance of credible and well-funded scientific research. There should never be anything controversial about wanting a safer and healthier world. Toxicology is the science of safety, and we all benefit from the work of competent and highly trained professionals. Protect the next generation by protecting scientists today. Take care!

Edward Levin
07-31-2025 11:23 AM

Scientists at the EPA ORD have made many pioneering research discoveries that provide essential information concerning toxic risks to our health and the health of our children. Our future depends on it. Although our research efforts may be diminished toxic risks do not. Closing our eyes eliminates our perception of traffic rushing by, but this greatly increases our risk of getting hit when we cross the street. Toxic exposures particularly impact early development with long term impairments across the lifetime.  Caring for our future we must not cross the street pushing a baby stroller with our eyes closed.

William Wustenberg
07-31-2025 11:22 AM

The number of resources available for understanding the potential health and safety impacts on humans and the environment is very finite and limited.  Having science-based, unbiased data upon which to base our understanding of potential hazards associated with exposure and help to establish reasonable and protective limits of safe exposure is absolutely essential for protection of the humans and environment now and into the future.  ORD has been an essential resource for those of use working in the toxicology field.  As a medical device materials toxicologist, there are no medical device specific toxicology databases.  I rely very heavily on the data the has historically been developed and included in databases and on the new and breaking data helping us understand new risks associated with new chemical compounds of exposure.  The EPA research is absolutely essential for my efforts to assure the safety of the next breakthrough medical device technology. Steps taken to interrupt that work leave me uncertain where I am going to find data to accurately elucidate the safety of the medical products my clients wish to bring to market and sick patients wish to have. In the medical field we abide by a "First Do No Harm" pledge.  This decision is an amputation when at most a revision might be considered, but only after very careful investigation and a true understanding of the value of the resource. .