On July 18, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a decision that sent shockwaves through the public health, scientific, and advocacy communities: it officially dismantled its Office of Research and Development (ORD) and initiated layoffs for thousands of scientists, toxicologists, chemists, and public health experts.

ORD was more than a government office. It was the scientific backbone of the EPA, responsible for research that guided national standards for air and water quality, chemical safety, and environmental justice. Its closure is more than a policy shift; it’s a public health crisis in the making.

Why This Matters to Our Community

At The AIP BIPOC Network, we work to empower and advocate for BIPOC individuals navigating autoimmune and chronic illnesses. Many of the conditions our community members face, Hashimoto’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, interstitial lung disease, are triggered or worsened by environmental exposures like mold, pollution, endocrine disruptors, and unregulated chemicals.

Without ORD:

• There will be fewer safeguards monitoring the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the chemicals allowed in our homes and communities.
• Science-based health protections will weaken, particularly those that disproportionately shield low-income and marginalized communities.
• Research on environmental triggers —already underfunded and underexplored—may disappear entirely from the federal landscape.

Disproportionate Impact on BIPOC Communities

Environmental injustice is not new. Communities of color are more likely to live near highways, industrial zones, and landfills. In addition, these communities are more likely to experience asthma, lead poisoning, contaminated water, and underdiagnosed chronic illness, all linked to environmental exposures.

The elimination of ORD:

• Removes one of the few government bodies tasked with studying these health risks.
• Slashes scientific jobs, many of which included environmental justice initiatives.
• Makes it harder for community organizations like ABN to access updated, unbiased data that fuels advocacy and education.

Why ABN’s Mission Is More Urgent Than Ever

This move signals a departure from science-based public health protections and a retreat from the kind of equity-driven policy change our community desperately needs. It reinforces what we’ve always known: we must advocate for ourselves and each other.

At ABN, we’re doubling down on:

• Educating our communities about environmental health risks
• Amplifying the link between environmental exposure and chronic illness
• Fighting for access to the tools and data we need to protect our health
• Building partnerships that push for justice, transparency, and prevention

Take Action: Protect Our Health, Defend Our Future

The dismantling of the EPA’s Office of Research and Development puts us all at risk, especially BIPOC communities living with chronic illness. Here’s how you can push back:

🟡 Share Your Story
Personal stories change minds. Share how environmental exposures, like unsafe water, mold, or chemical pollution, have impacted your health or your family’s.
🔗 Submit your story here

🟡 Join Our Online Community
The AIP BIPOC Community (ABC) is a space for connection, education, and collective action for those navigating autoimmune and chronic illness.
🔗 Join the ABC Community

🟡 Call, Email, or Tag Your Lawmakers
Tell Congress how these cuts threaten the health of people with chronic and autoimmune illness, particularly in BIPOC communities. Demand protection for air, water, and scientific integrity.
🔗 Find your representatives here

🟡 Raise Awareness
Share this blog post and trusted resources via social media, group chats, or email. Most people don’t realize how deeply these cuts reach — until they’re affected. The more people who understand the stakes, the stronger our collective voice becomes.

🟡 Get Involved and Support Advocacy
Join advocacy groups (like The AIP BIPOC Network) organizing for environmental health equity. Whether you sign a petition, attend a webinar, donate, or amplify their message — your support fuels the movement.
🔗 Donate to ABN

🟡 Support Each Other Locally
Environmental injustice shows up in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the buildings we live in. Help neighbors identify mold issues, share information about water filters or safe products, or assist someone navigating exposure-related health issues. When environmental protections are stripped away, community care becomes essential.

🟡 Correct the Narrative
Push back when you hear environmental protections dismissed as “overregulation” or lifelines labeled as “entitlements.” These safeguards and programs are essential, especially for disabled, chronically ill, and low-income communities who bear the brunt of pollution and systemic neglect. This isn’t about politics. It’s about survival.

🟡 Stay Ready and Informed
Laws change quickly. Stay connected to trusted advocacy organizations like The AIP BIPOC Network and be ready to act when urgent calls arise.

Final Thoughts

The closure of the EPA’s scientific core isn’t just a headline — it’s a public health emergency. For BIPOC communities already burdened by chronic illness and environmental injustice, this is a call to action. We are not powerless. Our advocacy, stories, and resilience are stronger than any policy meant to silence science or strip away protections.

Let’s keep pushing, for our health, our future, and each other.

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References

1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). About the Office of Research and Development (ORD).
   https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-research-and-development-ord
2. Associated Press (AP). EPA eliminates research and development office, begins layoffs.
   https://apnews.com/article/acf0ad3a649f940e138b2a917169405f
3. Reuters. US EPA cutting workforce by 23%, closing research division.
   https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-epa-cutting-workforce-by-23-closing-research-division-2025-07-18/
4. The Washington Post. EPA eliminates its scientific research arm.
   https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/07/18/epa-office-research-development-eliminated/
5. PBS NewsHour. How the closure of EPA offices puts poor and minority communities at risk.
   https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-the-closure-of-epa-offices-puts-poor-and-minority-communities-at-risk
6. InsideClimate News. EPA funding cuts target disadvantaged communities.
   https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01052025/trump-epa-funding-cuts-target-disadvantaged-communities/
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lupus Data & Statistics.
   https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/data-research/index.html
8. Lupus Foundation of America. Lupus Facts and Statistics.
   https://www.lupus.org/resources/lupus-facts-and-statistics
9. Rheumatology Advisor. Race, Ethnic Disparities Seen in Age-Adjusted Prevalence of Arthritis.
   https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/news/race-ethnic-disparities-seen-in-age-adjusted-prevalence-of-arthritis/