Trump hints at deep cuts at the EPA, alarming workers and environmental groups

President Trump said the head of the Environmental Protection Agency is prepared to implement deep staffing and spending cuts as part of the administration's efforts to downsize the executive branch, raising fears among employees and environmental groups about the impacts of the reductions.

"He thinks he's going to be cutting 65 or so percent of people from Environmental," Mr. Trump said at his first Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, referring to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "You had a lot of people who weren't doing their job. They were just obstructionists."

A White House official later clarified that the president was referring to cutting 65% of spending at EPA, not necessarily a 65% cut in staff. Nonetheless, the remarks stoked concern among the EPA's workforce.