‘Cloud of Mordor’: Trump orders EPA media blackout, contract halt
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has instituted a media blackout at the Environmental Protection Agency and barred staff from awarding any new contracts or grants, part of a broader communications clampdown within the executive branch.
Emails sent to EPA staff s i n c e P r e s i d e n t D o n a l d Trump’s inauguration Friday banned press releases, blog updates or posts to the agency’s social media accounts.
The Trump administration has also ordered what it called a temporary suspension of all new business at the department, including issuing task orders or work assignments to EPA contractors. The orders were expected to have a significant and immediate impact on EPA activities nationwide. EPA contracts with outside vendors for a wide array of services, from engineering and research science to janitorial supplies.
Si milar orders barri ng external communications have been issued in recent days by the Trump administration at other federal agencies, including the Agriculture and Interior departments.
Staffers in the EPA’s public affairs office have been instruc ted to for ward all inquiries from reporters to the Office of Administration and Resources Management.
“Incoming media requests will be carefully screened,” one direc tive said. “Only send out critical messages, as messages can be shared broadly and end up in the press.”
A review of EPA websites and social media accounts, whi c h t y p i c a l l y i n c l u d e numerous new posts each day, showed no new activity since Friday.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Tuesday he had no information on the blackout. He said aides were looking into the circumstances.
Doug Ericksen, the communications direc tor for Trump’s transition team at EPA, said he expects the communications ban to be lifted by the end of this week.
“We’re just trying to get a handle on everything and make sure what goes out reflects the priorities of the new administration,” Ericksen said.
Beyond what was stated in the internal email, Ericksen clarified that the freeze on EPA contracts and grants won’t apply to pollution cleanup efforts or infrastructure construction.
Officials at state and local agencies that rely on the EPA for funding said they were left in the dark, receiving no information from the EPA about the freeze.
“We are actively seeking additional information so we can understand the impact of this action on our ability to administer critical programs,” said Alan Matheson, executive director of Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
The executive director for the advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Jeff Ruch, said the orders go beyond what has occurred in prior presidential transitions.
“We’re watching the dark cloud of Mordor extend over federal service,” Ruch said Tuesday, referring to the evil kingdom in the epic fantasy “The Lord of the Rings.”
Environmentalists said the orders were having a chilling effect on EPA staff, many of whom were suffering from low morale.