The EPA has reassigned the director of its Criminal Investigation Division just as the Director of the Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training has announced his retirement.
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility released an EPA memo explaining that the leadership change – spurred by the director’s retirement – follows an independent review of OCEFT personnel practices and an organizational survey carried out by OPM indicating "significant issues exist that warrant the attention of senior management in OECA and OCEFT."
An internal EPA review concluded that a workforce accountability program "appears to have been implemented in a way that, for many, has created a significant number of personnel abuses, including a workplace of fear, divisiveness, low morale and may have resulted in a significant loss of talented staff."
As PEER noted, the review recommended suspending all ongoing disciplinary actions within CID, and PEER offered praise for the agency’s attention to the issue.
