WEBVTT 00:00.467 --> 00:01.067 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% >> Sreenivasan: A NEW REPORT 00:01.067 --> 00:02.135 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% FROM THE INVESTIGATIVE 00:02.135 --> 00:03.370 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% JOURNALISM ORGANIZATION PRO 00:03.370 --> 00:04.704 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% PUBLICA, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 00:04.704 --> 00:06.139 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% "NEW YORK TIMES," REVEALS THAT 00:06.139 --> 00:07.674 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS 00:07.674 --> 00:08.975 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% SHRINKING THE SIZE OF THE 00:08.975 --> 00:10.810 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, 00:10.810 --> 00:12.479 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% JUST AS IT SAID IT WOULD. 00:12.479 --> 00:14.781 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% AMONG THE FINDINGS: 700 PEOPLE 00:14.781 --> 00:16.249 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% HAVE LEFT THE AGENCY SINCE THE 00:16.249 --> 00:17.117 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% START OF THE TRUMP 00:17.117 --> 00:19.285 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% ADMINISTRATION, 200 OF WHOM ARE 00:19.285 --> 00:21.521 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% SCIENTISTS, AND ANOTHER 96 ARE 00:21.521 --> 00:22.655 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 00:22.655 --> 00:23.757 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% SPECIALISTS. 00:23.757 --> 00:24.691 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% LISA FRIEDMAN OF THE "NEW YORK 00:24.691 --> 00:26.393 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% TIMES" JOINS US TO HELP EXPLAIN 00:26.393 --> 00:28.495 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE AGENCY. 00:28.495 --> 00:31.031 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% LISA, 700 PEOPLE SOUNDS LIKE A 00:31.031 --> 00:33.233 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THE GOAL IS 00:33.233 --> 00:35.602 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% EVEN HIGHER, RIGHT? 00:35.602 --> 00:36.603 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% >> ABSOLUTELY. 00:36.603 --> 00:38.038 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% I MEAN, THIS IS AN AGENCY OF 00:38.038 --> 00:41.041 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% ABOUT 15,000 PEOPLE. 00:41.041 --> 00:42.208 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT BUT THERE 00:42.208 --> 00:45.612 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE DECREASE 00:45.612 --> 00:47.347 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% SINCE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, 00:47.347 --> 00:48.748 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% EVEN, BEING PUSHED BY REPUBLICAN 00:48.748 --> 00:49.849 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% BUDGET CUTS. 00:49.849 --> 00:50.817 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION 00:50.817 --> 00:52.819 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% STARTED, THEY SAID THEY WANTED 00:52.819 --> 00:55.355 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% TO CUT THIS AGENCY BY ABOUT 00:55.355 --> 00:57.290 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% 3,200 PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE WELL 00:57.290 --> 00:58.691 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% ON THEIR WAY. 00:58.691 --> 00:59.726 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% >> Sreenivasan: ALL RIGHT, SO 00:59.726 --> 01:01.461 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% WHAT HAPPENS IF, AS ALL OF THESE 01:01.461 --> 01:02.729 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% PEOPLE HAVE LEFT, WHAT ARE THE 01:02.729 --> 01:03.763 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% REPERCUSSIONS? 01:03.763 --> 01:04.731 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% IS THERE LESS SCIENCE BEING 01:04.731 --> 01:06.299 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% PERFORMED? 01:06.299 --> 01:07.467 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% ARE THERE-- IS THERE A DIFFERENT 01:07.467 --> 01:08.535 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% TYPE OF RESPONSE THAT THE AGENCY 01:08.535 --> 01:10.904 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% CAN PROVIDE AFTER A DISASTER, OR 01:10.904 --> 01:12.772 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% PERHAPS BEFORE ONE? 01:12.772 --> 01:15.308 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% >> ABOUT 700 PEOPLE-- A BIT MORE 01:15.308 --> 01:16.709 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% THAN THAT-- HAVE LEFT THE AGENCY 01:16.709 --> 01:17.944 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, 01:17.944 --> 01:19.612 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% THROUGH A COMBINATION OF 01:19.612 --> 01:21.347 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% BUY-OUTS AND RETIREMENTS. 01:21.347 --> 01:22.715 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% AND SOME OF THEM HAVE JUST QUIT. 01:22.715 --> 01:24.217 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% WE SPOKE TO DOZENS OF 01:24.217 --> 01:25.618 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% CURRENT AND FORMER E.P.A. 01:25.618 --> 01:27.153 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% EMPLOYEES WHO ARE REALLY WORRIED 01:27.153 --> 01:29.089 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% THAT SCIENCE IS AT RISK AT THE 01:29.089 --> 01:31.758 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% AGENCY, THAT THEIR ABILITY TO 01:31.758 --> 01:34.227 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% UNDERSTAND HOW PESTICIDES ARE 01:34.227 --> 01:37.730 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% AFFECTING OUR AIR AND WATER, HOW 01:37.730 --> 01:39.666 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% INCREASED POLLUTION CAN BE 01:39.666 --> 01:42.602 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% ABATED, ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS 01:42.602 --> 01:44.471 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% THAT WILL INCREASINGLY BE AT 01:44.471 --> 01:45.839 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% RISK. 01:45.839 --> 01:47.574 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% NOT TO MENTION THEIR ABILITY TO, 01:47.574 --> 01:50.276 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% TO DEAL WITH BIG-IMPACT ISSUES, 01:50.276 --> 01:51.878 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% WHETHER THEY ARE SPILLS OR FIRES 01:51.878 --> 01:53.313 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% OR OTHER THINGS THAT CREATE 01:53.313 --> 01:55.148 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% HAZARDOUS, TOXIC ISSUES FOR 01:55.148 --> 01:56.449 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% AMERICANS. 01:56.449 --> 01:57.350 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% >> Sreenivasan: WHAT ARE THE 01:57.350 --> 01:58.618 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES FOR AN 01:58.618 --> 01:59.619 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% AGENCY LIKE THIS? 01:59.619 --> 02:01.387 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% BECAUSE, ON THE ONE HAND, YOU 02:01.387 --> 02:02.555 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSE 02:02.555 --> 02:03.690 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% TO RETIREMENT, WHO ARE GOING TO 02:03.690 --> 02:05.358 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% TAKE A BUY-OUT OR LEAVE EARLY, 02:05.358 --> 02:06.526 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT-- 02:06.526 --> 02:08.361 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% KIND OF, THAT INSTITUTIONAL 02:08.361 --> 02:10.230 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% KNOWLEDGE, AND HOW IT GETS 02:10.230 --> 02:11.698 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% PASSED DOWN TO THE YOUNGER 02:11.698 --> 02:12.866 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% SCIENTISTS? 02:12.866 --> 02:13.800 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% >> IT'S A SIGNIFICANT 02:13.800 --> 02:15.368 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% BRAIN-DRAIN, IN PART BECAUSE IT 02:15.368 --> 02:16.936 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% DOES NOT SEEM THAT IT IS GETTING 02:16.936 --> 02:18.138 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% PASSED DOWN TO YOUNGER 02:18.138 --> 02:19.372 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% SCIENTISTS. 02:19.372 --> 02:21.307 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% PEOPLE ARE LEAVING, AND, WHEREAS 02:21.307 --> 02:23.676 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% IN PAST YEARS THEY MIGHT PUT IN 02:23.676 --> 02:27.280 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% YOUNGER EMPLOYEES WHO HAD 02:27.280 --> 02:28.848 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% MENTORS WITHIN THE AGENCY AND 02:28.848 --> 02:29.883 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% COULD LEARN FROM THEIR 02:29.883 --> 02:31.885 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% EXPERIENCE AND GROW, AND BECOME 02:31.885 --> 02:33.786 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% THE EXPERTS THEMSELVES, THAT'S 02:33.786 --> 02:34.854 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% HAPPENING LESS AND LESS. 02:34.854 --> 02:36.156 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% AND INCREASINGLY, THESE 02:36.156 --> 02:37.790 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% POSITIONS ARE JUST GONE. 02:37.790 --> 02:39.626 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% I THINK THIS IS, IN PART, A 02:39.626 --> 02:41.461 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% REFLECTION OF MORALE. 02:41.461 --> 02:43.129 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% BOTH I AND REPORTERS AT PRO 02:43.129 --> 02:44.631 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% PUBLICA, WITH WHOM I DID THIS 02:44.631 --> 02:46.366 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% STORY, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED TO 02:46.366 --> 02:48.134 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% MANY, MANY EMPLOYEES IN THE 02:48.134 --> 02:50.603 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% AGENCY, FORMER EMPLOYEES. 02:50.603 --> 02:52.272 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% THEY SAID TO US, "WE HAVE BEEN 02:52.272 --> 02:53.673 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% HERE THROUGH REPUBLICAN AND 02:53.673 --> 02:55.708 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% DEMOCRAT ADMINISTRATIONS ALIKE, 02:55.708 --> 02:57.577 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% AND WE HAVE NEVER SEEN AN 02:57.577 --> 02:59.078 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% ATMOSPHERE LIKE THIS, WHERE WE 02:59.078 --> 03:01.781 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% FEEL OUR WORK IS SO DEVALUED." 03:01.781 --> 03:04.250 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THE 03:04.250 --> 03:06.419 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% ADMINISTRATION WHO VEHEMENTLY 03:06.419 --> 03:08.855 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% DISPUTE THAT CHARACTERIZATION, 03:08.855 --> 03:10.590 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% OF COURSE, BUT THE SCIENTISTS 03:10.590 --> 03:11.824 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% AND THE E.P.A. 03:11.824 --> 03:13.660 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% EMPLOYEES WE TALKED TO SAID THAT 03:13.660 --> 03:15.662 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% PART OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF 03:15.662 --> 03:19.199 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% BUY-OUTS REFLECTS NOT ONLY THE 03:19.199 --> 03:20.833 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% ABILITY TO RETIRE A LITTLE 03:20.833 --> 03:24.470 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% EARLY, BUT ALSO A SENSE THAT 03:24.470 --> 03:26.406 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% THEY FEEL THEY ARE NOT GOING TO 03:26.406 --> 03:27.574 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR 03:27.574 --> 03:29.108 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% MISSION UNDER THIS 03:29.108 --> 03:29.943 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% ADMINISTRATION. 03:29.943 --> 03:30.643 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% >> Sreenivasan: ALL RIGHT. 03:30.643 --> 03:31.344 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% LISA FRIEDMAN OF THE "NEW YORK 03:31.344 --> 03:32.111 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% TIMES," JOINING US FROM 03:32.111 --> 03:33.279 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% WASHINGTON, THANKS SO MUCH. 03:33.279 --> 03:37.279 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% >> THANKS SO MUCH.