(Bowie, Maryland, April 1, 2025) – Environmental Justice (EJ) has long been a priority for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), particularly under the leadership of Michael Regan and the efforts of Charles Lee at the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ). Drs. Bunyan Bryant and Paul Mohai’s work propelled environmental justice as a legitimate academic field of study and resulted in them leading a team of academics and activists to advise the U.S. EPA on environmental justice policy throughout the early 1990s. In 1990, the Congressional Black Caucus met with EPA officials to discuss their findings that environmental risk was higher for low-income communities of color, and alleged that EPA’s inspections were not addressing their communities’ needs. Thus, the EPA created the Environmental Equity Workgroup to address the allegation that ‘racial, minority, and low-income populations bear a higher environmental risk burden than the general population.’ The office of Environmental Equity was then established by President George Bush in 1992, later changed to the Office of Environmental Justice in 1994. Since recent Executive Orders by then Presidents Clinton and Biden, respectively, the US has made tremendous strides to address historical injustices and create restorative change. However, the Trump Administration’s recent anti-EJ executive orders and federal funding freeze present significant challenges to these initiatives, threatening to undermine progress, limit the agency’s ability to address environmental disparities, and stymie the work of key advisory bodies like the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC). The following explores how these issues impact the EPA, OEJ, and NEJAC, and examines leadership efforts and recommendations for moving forward.
EPA and Leadership under Michael Regan (2021-2024)
Regan began his career at US EPA, focusing on air quality and energy programs from 1998-2008. After serving as the Associate Vice President for Clean Energy and Southeast Regional Director at the Environmental Defense Fund and an appointment as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, in March 2021, he was appointed as the first Black man to lead the US EPA. In November 2021, Regan embarked on a “Journey to Justice” tour of the Deep South to spotlight EJ concerns in historically marginalized communities. Throughout the tour, Regan highlighted the benefits of then-President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Build Back Better agenda, focusing on historic investments in water and air quality improvements. Highlights of the tour included visiting Jackson, Mississippi to hear firsthand from residents and EJ advocates about local water infrastructure challenges. Regan then traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana for a roundtable discussion with Dr. Robert Bullard and the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, meeting with residents in St. John the Baptist Parish and St. James Parish who were dealing with the severe impacts of pollution. Regan then went on a walking tour of an affordable housing development built on top of a toxic landfill, and to Mossville, Louisiana to observe the impacts of pollution from local refineries that make up “Cancer Alley.” During the final leg of the tour, Regan spoke with students, faculty, and staff at Texas Southern University’s Bullard Center in Houston and joined residents and activists for a tour of the Houston Ship Channel. Following the tour, in 2022, Regan announced a series of broad policy actions in each of the Journey to Justice tour regions.
Thereafter, Regan has made Environmental Justice a cornerstone of the agency’s mission. In 2023, EPA established Thriving Communities and Technical Assistance Centers (TCTACs). The TCTACs played a crucial role in helping communities navigate complex federal funding opportunities and implement effective EJ initiatives. Under Regan’s leadership, the EPA also provided $600 million in pass-through funding for regional and national “Grantmakers” to issue thousands of subgrants to community-based organizations for assessment, planning, and project development activities. As part of the broader effort to promote clean energy adoption, the EPA launched the $7 billion “Solar for All” program in 2024. By providing funding and technical assistance, the program sought to reduce energy costs and promote renewable energy use in underserved areas. Under the BIL, the EPA was allocated over $50 billion to improve the nation’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. In fiscal year 2022, the EPA announced $7.4 billion in funding to states, tribes, and territories, with nearly half available as grants or principal forgiveness loans to support essential water infrastructure projects. The BIL dedicated $15 billion specifically for the replacement of lead service lines to ensure safe drinking water. This funding was part of the broader allocations and was intended to be utilized over the five-year period. Lastly, an additional $2 billion was allocated to address emerging contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in drinking water. In February 2023, the EPA announced the availability of these funds to assist communities, particularly small or disadvantaged ones, in tackling these contaminants. Overall, Regan’s leadership led efforts to direct 40% of federal climate and clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities through the Justice40 Initiative, ensuring that federal investments in clean energy and climate resilience benefit communities historically harmed by pollution and environmental degradation. Regan has also worked to ensure that the EPA integrates EJ considerations into its regulatory actions, including revising toxic chemical regulations and improving air and water quality standards in underserved areas. Furthermore, in 2023, Regan appointed 16 members to the EPA’s first-ever National Environmental Youth Advisory Council (NEYAC). The newly established federal advisory committee provides independent policy advice and recommendations on how to address a range of environmental issues impacting youth. However, the recent anti-EJ executive orders and federal funding freeze threaten the agency’s progress. Additionally, a federal funding freeze will severely limit the EPA’s capacity to implement its EJ initiatives. A reduction in funds will delay critical infrastructure projects and reduce outreach to communities in need of assistance.
The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) and the Legacy of Charles Lee
The OEJ, historically pivotal in advancing EJ efforts within the EPA, has seen strong leadership from figures like Charles Lee. Lee’s renowned EJ journey began with his first paper on race, poverty, and the environment in 1978. In 1982, he worked for the New Jersey Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, where he organized a group of labor and community leaders to travel to Warren County, meet the leaders of the United Church of Christ’s (UCC) Commission for Racial Justice, and take part in the Warren County protests. Though the landfill ended up being built, the UCC decided to initiate a special project on environmental hazards in communities of color. They asked Lee to head the project. Lee ran the UCC Environmental Justice program for 15 years. Along with Dr. Robert Bullard, considered by many as the father of the EJ movement, Lee helped put together the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit held in 1991, which brought over a thousand environmental organizations together in drafting the 17 Principles of Environmental Justice. In 1999, Lee joined the EPA as its associate director for policy and interagency liaison at its Office of Environmental Justice. Eight years later, he became the office’s director. Lee’s efforts were crucial in helping to institutionalize EJ principles within federal policy. He helped develop Plan EJ 2014, offering a road map to enable the EPA to better integrate environmental justice and civil rights into its programs, policies and daily work. He championed numerous EJ programs and initiatives, laying the foundation for continued progress in addressing disparities in environmental health, and ensuring that EPA programs had meaningful impact and effective community engagement. Under Lee’s guidance, the OEJ spearheaded the development of tools such as EPA EJSCREEN, which helps the EPA identify communities disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards. This tool has inspired states, such as California and Maryland, to develop their own more granular tools (CalEnviroScreen and MD EJSCREEN, respectively). The OEJ also provided critical resources to state and local governments and helped to develop funding programs to address environmental injustices. The anti-EJ executive orders have hindered the OEJ’s ability to expand its work. For example, efforts to roll back regulatory protections and reduce agency budgets directly undermine the OEJ’s ability to respond to environmental crises in vulnerable communities. A funding freeze exacerbates this by limiting the OEJ’s capacity to conduct community outreach and offer grants to local governments and community organizations.
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC)
The NEJAC, which advises the EPA on EJ issues, has played a crucial role in advancing EJ policies and initiatives over the years. By offering recommendations and providing a platform for communities to voice their concerns, NEJAC has been instrumental in shaping EPA policies that prioritize the needs of vulnerable communities. Notable current and former members include: Dr. Robert Bullard, Dr. Beverly Wright, Peggy Shepard, Dr. Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, Omega Wilson, Vernice Miller-Travis, Dr. Nicky Sheats, and Jerome Shabazz. Over the years, NEJAC has produced impactful reports, such as the 2024 report on reducing cumulative and disproportionate environmental burdens in EJ communities, which provides key recommendations for mitigating long-standing exposure to pollution and improving regulatory frameworks. Additionally, in 2023, NEJAC released a report on water infrastructure technical assistance, highlighting the urgent need for investment in safe and resilient drinking water systems, particularly in historically underfunded communities. Another significant milestone was the 2022 report on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), which called for stronger federal action to address the widespread contamination of drinking water and its harmful health effects on vulnerable populations. NEJAC has also emphasized the intersection of finance and environmental justice through its 2022 Finance and Investments report, advocating for more equitable distribution of federal and private funding for climate resilience and community-led projects. NEJAC’s work has resulted in key recommendations for addressing environmental health disparities, promoting community-based solutions, and ensuring public participation in environmental decision-making. For instance, NEJAC has consistently pushed for stronger accountability from the EPA to address issues like environmental racism and ensure marginalized communities are involved in regulatory decisions. When the executive branch rolls back environmental protections or seeks to weaken EJ programs, NEJAC’s recommendations are at risk of being ignored or sidelined. Additionally, funding freezes will lead to limited capacity for NEJAC to carry out its advisory role, reducing its ability to effectively advocate for the communities it serves. The EPA, OEJ, and NEJAC have made significant strides in Environmental Justice, but recent anti-EJ, but recent anti-EJ executive orders and funding cuts threaten this progress. To safeguard these efforts, we must push for stronger protections, restored funding, and continued advocacy to ensure that environmental justice remains a national priority and the impacted communities receive well needed support.
