Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

PEER client Carolyn McConnell, a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) field attorney, is facing threats of criminal prosecution and discipline for her outside activism on national park issues. Before and throughout her tenure with the NLRB, Carolyn has been an active member of the North Cascades Conservation Council (NCCC), working to protect Washington State’s Cascades. Her advocacy has nothing to do with her role at the NLRB, yet she’s being targeted for speaking out. “Federal employees do not surrender their right to free speech, freedom of association, and the ability to petition the government on their own time if it does not conflict with their jobs,” declared PEER Executive Director Timothy Whitehouse, an attorney formerly with EPA. “Federal employees have the right to be socially active and to comment on matters of concern, just like everybody else.”

PEER is looking for a Litigation Assistant join our team. If you're organized, detail-oriented, and have at least one year of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant in a litigation setting, we want to hear from you! This role provides critical administrative and litigation support to our legal team as we fight to protect public employees and the environment. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/g4MPNvAR

Recently fired Denali National Park Ranger Mitch Flanigan and PEER's Executive Director Timothy Whitehouse shed light on the chaos of the recent firings across U.S. Department of the Interior agencies. Listen in to learn what these cuts mean for public servants and public lands on the latest episode of the Center for Western Priorities podcast. https://ow.ly/feIB50V4iqt

The H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu, is leaping across species barriers and evolving into new strains that could pose a greater threat to humans. Yet, instead of strengthening our defenses, the Trump administration is dismantling our public health institutions and crippling our ability to respond. Read more in our latest commentary from PEER Executive Director Timothy Whitehouse.

I was quoted in this NYT article about the recent firings of over 1,000 National Park Service employees. “It’s going to degrade our parks, demoralize people that work very hard for very little money, and make the government a hostile place to be,” he said, adding that the layoffs at the park service were cruel and appeared random. “But I think that’s the intention.” The National Park Service is already understaffed and many seasonal employees have had their job offers revoked. There are so many heartbreaking stories that are unfolding across the country. Many of the people laid off were instantaneously locked out of their computers with no notice, were left stranded in remote parts of the United States, and did not even receive a letter so they could collect unemployment insurance. While the supposed reason for the firings is to save money, that is malarky. The first reason is to create chaos so Elon and Trump can "prove" government is dysfunctional, and the second is to privatize as many government functions are possible.

During his first term, President Trump was troubled by investigations and even impeachments. This time, he's determined to make sure that won't happen again. Less than one month into his second term, he's already sidelined the federal “referees” who enforce the rules safeguarding whistleblowers and other truth-tellers.

We're #hiring! Please share with your networks. PEER is seeking a General Counsel to lead our legal team in assisting and defending public employees who protect the environment. Apply now to join our team at this critical time.

The National Park Service is descending into chaos. That is why we are asking the Department of the Interior Secretary to stand up to the Trump-Musk alliance that wants to cripple federal agencies, including the National Park Service. With staffing levels at their lowest levels in years and the number of visitors at record levels, the new administration has instituted a hiring freeze, terminated NPS seasonal staff, and is putting pressure on the rest of the staff to resign. Many of our most popular national parks will be unable to operate without their seasonal employees unless the Interior Secretary steps in to provide guidance on how the NPS will address its seasonal hiring needs.

??? Monday, February 3rd | 12:30 PM ET Join Rocky Mountain PEER Director Chandra Rosenthal at the 2025 Wild Horse Virtual Summit to learn how livestock grazing impacts public lands. Register now to secure your spot: https://ow.ly/fib050UOf3K

.Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility is suing the Trump administration for its illegal attempt to fire federal workers. Debates over the size of the federal government and the role of the civil service in our country are as American as apple pie. However, in the past week, Trump has made numerous sweeping decisions that dismantle the checks and balances in our government and pave the way for widespread corruption and dysfunction in federal agencies. These orders are illegal and without precedent. Contrary to the administration's rhetoric, the world faces serious environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, the overuse of toxic chemicals, and the spread of emerging diseases. The country needs a strong civil service to help address these threats, something this administration seems determined to destroy. We are proud to be partnering with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Democracy Forward in this lawsuit.