Legislative Update: Senate GOP Moves to Confirm EPA Chemical Policy Nominee

Senate GOP Moves to Confirm EPA Chemical Policy Nominee

On October 8, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee convened a hearing on Doug Troutman’s nomination to lead the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, highlighting the Republican majority’s focus on practical reform and regulatory balance. The nominee pledged to speed up reviews of chemicals and pesticides, but declined to answer questions about whether the agency would examine the risks faced by communities in close proximity to facilities that release chemicals. Committee Republicans appear prepared to confirm Doug Troutman, despite Democratic opposition over his industry background.

Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) praised Troutman’s extensive private-sector leadership at the American Cleaning Institute, emphasizing that his combination of legal, regulatory, and managerial experience uniquely qualifies him to repair an office bogged down by bureaucratic inefficiency. Republicans framed Troutman not only as a reformer capable of balancing scientific rigor with economic growth but also as a corrective to years of inefficiency and politicization at EPA. Capito stressed that the EPA’s current approach under previous administrations has stifled innovation and discouraged investment in safer, modern chemistries due to overly burdensome reviews—an outcome that harms both the environment and the economy.

Democrats on the committee, in contrast, used the hearing as an opportunity to reprise longstanding criticism of what they characterize as industry influence within the Trump EPA.

Troutman promised to restore predictability and timeliness to EPA’s new-chemical review process. He echoed the administration’s broader pro-growth message, namely, that economic prosperity and environmental protection are compatible objectives. His emphasis on certainty and transparency is well-received by American manufacturers and innovators frustrated with years of administrative delays and inconsistent decision-making within the EPA’s chemical office.

The committee is expected to hold a vote in the coming weeks on advancing Troutman’s nomination to the Senate floor, though no specific date has been set. He will most likely be swiftly confirmed, given the Republican-controlled Senate’s procedural rules streamlining sub-cabinet nominations.

Senate Republicans Push Spending Bills to Pressure Democrats During Shutdown

Senate Republican leaders are moving to advance full-year appropriations bills in an effort to pressure Democrats to end the ongoing government shutdown. Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has scheduled a procedural vote on the House-passed Defense appropriations bill for October 16, requiring 60 votes to proceed. Republicans are also working to expedite a “minibus” covering the Departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and other agencies, while exploring the possibility of combining Defense funding with the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development to entice Democratic support.

The GOP strategy seeks to frame Democrats as obstructing progress if they block the measures. Although the Senate passed a three-bill appropriations package in August, negotiations with the House have largely halted amid the shutdown. Democrats argue that advancing partial funding measures without a broader agreement could undercut larger negotiations, especially as some Republicans propose rescinding previously approved spending. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) expressed optimism that progress on regular appropriations could demonstrate that the process is working and remove any justification for maintaining the shutdown.

Democrats, led by Senate Appropriations ranking member Patty Murray (D-WA), maintain that a broader leadership negotiation is needed to end the stalemate, including discussions on health care and other unresolved items. Republicans such as Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) counter that Democrats are using procedural objections to stall progress, arguing that the House is ready to move forward. The coming votes will test whether Senate Republicans’ procedural maneuvers can build bipartisan momentum or merely deepen partisan divisions over the shutdown.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) warned again this week that the ongoing federal government shutdown could become the longest in U.S. history, saying he will not negotiate with Democrats until they agree to reopen the government and pause their demands on health care funding.

Federal Funding Standoff Stalls NEPA Reform Momentum

The ongoing federal government shutdown has delayed efforts to build legislative momentum for bipartisan environmental permitting reform. Organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have postponed their major lobbying campaign, including their “day of action” which was intended to rally support for revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). With negotiations on government funding stalled, both lawmakers and industry observers now question whether a bipartisan deal can realistically advance this Congress, despite continued engagement from key figures in both parties.

The rescheduled event, now set for November 4, will still feature central policymakers, including House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and White House Permitting Council Director Emily Domenech. Westerman and Capito are leading legislative efforts on NEPA reform, seeking to streamline project approvals. However, partisan divisions remain significant.

Despite the current impasse, some lawmakers and stakeholders maintain cautious optimism that the shutdown’s eventual resolution could lay the groundwork for future bipartisan cooperation on permitting modernization. Yet the prolonged shutdown threatens to erode recent bipartisan goodwill and trust, potentially delaying comprehensive reform efforts into the next congressional session.

EPA Recycling Division Targeted for Cuts Despite Bipartisan Support

The Trump administration’s plan to eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency’s Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division (RCSD) has drawn criticism from former officials and industry sources who describe the group as a rare, bipartisan success story within the agency. The division, which operates under EPA’s Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, focuses mainly on non-regulatory initiatives, including recycling, composting, plastics management, and food waste reduction. Longtime EPA officials note that both Republican and Democratic administrations have valued the RCSD’s work for fostering collaboration between government and industry to advance environmental goals in an economically efficient way. A former EPA official called it “a really small investment with great benefits,” pointing out that even the first Trump administration had supported the program’s mission before its current attempt to dissolve it.

The proposed reductions in force (RIFs), which would affect nearly all 28 employees in the division, were temporarily blocked by a federal court on October 15. Observers also note the inconsistency of targeting the RCSD only weeks after EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin launched a new “Feed It Onward” initiative to combat food waste—a core area of the division’s expertise. EPA’s official response blamed congressional Democrats for the shutdown and resulting personnel actions, without addressing how the proposed cuts align with the agency’s stated priorities. Industry supporters warn that dismantling the RCSD would undermine national recycling and waste reduction efforts that have long enjoyed bipartisan backing.

On October 9, the EPA announced that, due to the ongoing government shutdown, it can no longer incur financial obligations beyond exempted activities and started placing a large portion of its workforce on furlough. According to the agency’s shutdown plan, only about 1,734 employees will continue working—those funded through non-appropriated sources, performing duties necessary to protect life and property, or whose roles are legally exempt—while roughly 15,000 staff will be furloughed. Other impacted offices include EPA’s enforcement, air and radiation, chemicals, and environmental justice divisions. The furlough notice extends through November 8, as repeated Senate votes to reopen the government have failed to break the political stalemate.

Courts Pause Most Environmental Litigation as Courts Grant DOJ Delays

Federal courts have largely granted the Justice Department’s requests to pause ongoing environmental litigation involving the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies during the government shutdown, citing the lapse in funding and furlough restrictions on federal employees. Most judges have agreed that these circumstances constitute “good cause” to delay proceedings or extend deadlines, as many DOJ and agency staff are legally prohibited from working unless performing essential functions. However, a limited number of high-priority cases are still moving forward, requiring agency personnel to continue working without pay until the government reopens.

UN Plastics Treaty Chair Resigns

Luis Vayas Valdivieso, chair of the stalled United Nations plastics treaty negotiations, is stepping down amid reports of internal pressure from the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and deep divisions among member states. His resignation follows the collapse of global talks in Geneva in August, where countries failed to agree on a treaty to curb plastic pollution after three years of negotiations. Valdivieso faced criticism from some governments and NGOs for releasing a draft text seen as too weak, notably removing provisions on limiting plastic production and addressing hazardous chemicals. Behind the scenes, UNEP staff were accused of organizing a covert meeting to encourage civil society representatives to push for his resignation, prompting Valdivieso to file a formal inquiry and call for greater transparency. While he insists his departure is for personal and professional reasons, the move underscores growing dysfunction in the treaty process.