In first, EPA union endorses Biden for president

A union representing employees with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday endorsed President Biden’s reelection — its first ever political endorsement. 

The union, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 238, represents 8,000 EPA employees, including engineers, lawyers and inspectors.

The union cited Biden’s record of fighting climate change and supporting workers, as well as “the attacks on science and the federal workforce” during rival Donald Trump’s presidency.

“AFGE Council 238 is proud to issue its first-ever political endorsement to President Joe Biden, a leader who supports and values the work of federal employees who are working tirelessly to face the climate emergency,” said AFGE Council 238 President Marie Owens Powell in a written statement. 

“Donald Trump’s dangerous rhetoric around climate change, and his comments signaling his intent to gut environmental agencies, tells us that a second term would be catastrophic,” she added.

During his presidency, Trump rolled back environmental regulations, while Biden has focused on implementing tighter rules for industry to protect the climate. 

When he was president, Trump removed workplace protections for federal workers and his campaign said that if he’s reelected, he plans to fire “rogue bureaucrats and career politicians.” The Biden administration recently issued a rule aimed at making it harder to fire federal workers.