Federal workers’ union alleges EPA illegally terminated agreement with the goal of repressing political dissent

The union representing more than 8,000 workers at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a lawsuit against the agency and administrator Lee Zeldin on Tuesday alleging the agency illegally terminated the union’s collective bargaining agreement.

The lawsuit, filed by two local unions of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), claims the agency failed to justify the contract’s termination and was motivated by a desire to repress political dissent, a violation of the employees’ first amendment rights.

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© Photograph: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

© Photograph: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

© Photograph: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Environmentalists decry move that relaxes requirements on automakers to control pollution from gas-powered cars

The Trump administration on Monday announced it was slashing clean car rules that had been aimed at reducing planet-heating emissions and boosting electric vehicles.

The move, which was criticized by environmentalists, relaxes requirements on automakers to control pollution from gasoline-powered cars and light trucks for model years 2022 through 2031.

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© Photograph: Apu Gomes/Getty Images

© Photograph: Apu Gomes/Getty Images

© Photograph: Apu Gomes/Getty Images

At the Climate Forward live event, policymakers, executives and activists debated the boom in data centers, the growing backlash and its environmental effects.

© Demetrius Freeman for The New York Times