Political leadership at EPA has told employees with at least two program offices to expect reorganization announcements Friday. According to multiple people with knowledge of senior-level meetings, EPA has scheduled an all-hands meeting late Friday with Office of Research and Development employees. There, agency leaders are expected to inform staff that some functions will be restructured or absorbed into other offices, but ORD will no longer exist as a stand-alone program, said one source with knowledge of the plan and granted anonymity to speak due to fear of retaliation. … Staffers who sign up for the “deferred resignation” program will go on paid leave through the end of September. … This is the second time the option has been offered since President Donald Trump began his second term. About 545 workers took advantage of it in the first round, according to EPA.

Other EPA news:

• Reuters: US EPA research in limbo as scientists brace for massive job cuts
• Water Finance & Management: EPA announces technical assistance for small, rural, tribal systems
• E&E News by Politico: Court blocks Trump’s bid to remand EPA’s chemical review plan
• Capital Press (Eugene, Ore.): Irrigation districts look to EPA for crystal clear WOTUS rule
• Truthout: Blog: New EPA regulatory changes on PFAS spark public health concerns