Politics — Navigating Air Safety Regulations

Meet Trump's EPA hiring committee

As the administration tightens its grip on who serves at federal agencies, the panel will approve new hires.

, and Administrator

2025 December 19 . 2:39 PM

1 min read

In this image, these look like the dam gates. I can see the water flowing. This looks like a... — In this image, these look like the dam gates. I can see the water flowing. This looks like a bridge. I can see the trees and plants

Meet Trump's EPA hiring committee

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set up a new Strategic Hiring Committee to oversee all new appointments. This group will ensure that hiring decisions match national interests, the agency’s needs, and the policies of the Trump administration. The committee’s structure has drawn attention due to its political composition and broad authority.

The nine-member committee includes five political appointees from the Trump era. These members—David Fotouhi, Eric Amidon, Travis Voyles, Paige Hanson, and Michael Molina—hold a majority, giving them significant influence over hiring choices.

The committee’s role mirrors that of another EPA review board, which evaluates post-government employment requests. That separate panel includes former Trump officials like Matthew Whitaker, who served as acting attorney general, and David Apol, a former ethics counsel. Career civil servants, such as EPA official Diana R. Riddle and deputy ethics officer Karen Sokolow-Smith, also sit on the ethics review board. With its new hiring committee, the EPA aims to align staffing decisions with the priorities set during the Trump administration. The group’s majority of political appointees ensures their views will shape recruitment outcomes.

The Strategic Hiring Committee now controls approval for all new EPA employees. Its decisions will reflect the agency’s direction under Trump-era policies. The balance of political and career members on the panel will determine how hiring unfolds in the coming months.