US environmental agency fires five 'whistleblowers': non-profit

Washington: A science advocacy group on Friday lambasted the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for firing five whistleblowers who signed a pu...

Washington: A science advocacy group on Friday lambasted the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for firing five "whistleblowers" who signed a public letter critical of the Trump administration.

"The EPA fired five whistleblowers who signed the EPA Declaration of Dissent, and issued a Notice of Removal for an additional four employees," according to a statement from Stand Up for Science, a non-profit organization created in response to US President Donald Trump's cuts to federal research funding and other policies.

The EPA appeared to acknowledge the job losses in a statement on Friday, but did not specify if employees were fired.

"Following a thorough internal investigation, EPA supervisors made decisions on an individualized basis," an agency spokesperson wrote to AFP, declining to comment on "individual personnel matters."

Since taking charge of the federal agency tasked with ensuring clean air, land and water, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has executed Trump's agenda, including gutting climate regulations, ramping up fossil fuel development and slashing funding for clean energy.