Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
On June 27, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan addressed EPA staff at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., highlighting significant progress under President Biden's administration. The event convened all EPA staff across headquarters and its ten regional offices.
Administrator Regan underscored the agency's achievements under the theme "Bold Promises, Real Results," emphasizing efforts to tackle climate change, advance environmental justice, and invest in science and career expertise. He began by reflecting on the challenges faced in early 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and praised the resilience of EPA staff.
"While the circumstances should have felt overwhelming… they weren’t… because I know who YOU are. Team EPA is tenacious…resilient...and fearless… The fight, the spirit, and the perseverance of our team is unparalleled… Because together, there is absolutely nothing we can’t accomplish…" said Regan.
Regan noted that from day one, President Biden set forth a bold environmental agenda with EPA playing a central role. Significant strides have been made to protect human health and ensure equal protection under law for all communities, particularly those historically overburdened by pollution.
To prioritize these communities, Regan launched the Journey to Justice tour in 2021. "For far too long, too many communities across our country have disproportionately suffered from a lack of investment and adequate access to critical public health protections," he stated.
In September 2022, EPA established the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. This office aims to address longstanding disparities with over 200 staff members and billions in new funding for community solutions.
Regan highlighted President Biden’s unprecedented investments exceeding $100 billion through historic legislation aimed at addressing infrastructure, climate, and environmental justice needs. "These billions of dollars in resources complement our traditional mission…spurring us to move further and faster than ever before while creating jobs, growing our economy and supercharging private investment in clean technologies," he added.
Young people’s involvement was also acknowledged by Regan as crucial to this movement. He commended their role from historical civil rights protests to modern-day climate action demands. The establishment of EPA’s National Environmental Youth Advisory Council was mentioned as a step towards involving young leaders in decision-making processes.
"History has shown us that young people have always played a central role in demanding social and political change... Every generation has its own defining challenge… And just like President Biden said, the challenge of our time is climate change," said Regan.
The speech concluded with a call for continued momentum and growth within the agency which has onboarded over 5,000 new employees since 2021. "America needs a strong EPA... I know our future is bright, and the state of EPA is stronger than ever... I couldn’t be prouder to lead this EPA… at this critical moment in time…under this President’s leadership."
EPA remains committed to delivering effective solutions for environmental protection and public health while embedding environmental justice into all aspects of its work.
