The Environmental Protection Agency announced July 18 that it will begin dismantling its Office of Research and Development, along with laying off staff.

The office formerly conducted research to protect ecosystems and the health of people from pollutants, according to the EPA website. The agency’s news release stated that the reduction in force will deliver “$748.8 million in savings,” and employees in the research office received letters stating that they will either be moved to other branches or let go entirely.

Wendy Wagner, a chair professor at the UT School of Law who works in environmental policy, said the office’s role in the U.S. government was crucial.

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“We’re losing two things,” Wagner said. “We’re losing a lot of basic research that helps fuel science. We’re also losing rounded, excellent, high-quality research that supports regulatory standards.”

Despite the layoffs, Wagner said she is hopeful the reduction in roles will allow researchers to potentially work in new jobs, such as University research positions.

“The plus side, in a very sad way, is that we have some of the world’s best scientists now unemployed, “ Wagner said. “We might want to look for future faculty.”

Kyla Bennett, the director of science policy at Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, expressed similar frustrations with the office’s closure.

“There’s no reason to reorganize and (reduce the workforce in the) ORD,” Bennett said. “It provides us with so much scientific information and we’re going to lose it.”

Bennett said one of the first places the workforce cuts will hit is Texas and its environment.

“What we’re going to see in states like Texas is dirtier air, dirtier water, unsafe food, (and) more climate disasters,” Bennett said. “It’s not fair to the people.”

Wagner said the EPA becoming politicized could create even further issues when keeping scientific research in check.

“That is why the administration wanted to eliminate ORD, because it was a check on the politicization of science,” Wagner said. “Now, the fox is in charge of the hen house completely and there’s no internal staff to call them out like there used to be.”