Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent U.S. government agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment. President Richard Nixon proposed its creation on July 9, 1970, and it began operations on December 2, 1970, after Nixon signed an executive order. The order was later ratified by committee hearings in the House and Senate. The EPA is led by an administrator appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Since January 29, 2025, Lee Zeldin has served as administrator. While not a Cabinet department, the administrator typically holds cabinet rank. The agency's headquarters are in Washington, D.C., with ten regional offices and 27 laboratories nationwide.

The EPA's core functions include developing and enforcing environmental regulations, conducting scientific research, and disbursing grants to state and local governments. It administers voluntary programs such as Energy Star for energy efficiency, Safer Choice for safer chemicals, and Smart Growth for sustainable community planning. The agency also plays a leadership role in international agreements like the Montreal Protocol and the Paris Climate Accord.

Funding for the EPA comes from congressional appropriations. For fiscal year 2024, the agency's budget was $13.7 billion, representing 0.2% of all federal spending. The agency has faced controversies over environmental justice, FOIA processing, and its response to events such as the 2023 East Palestine train derailment. [edit]