Michael Regan, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who prioritized environmental justice during his tenure, announced he will step down on Dec. 31, just three weeks before President Joe Biden’s term concludes.
In a letter to EPA employees on Friday, Regan highlighted the agency’s accomplishments under his leadership, including combating climate change, reducing air and water pollution, and utilizing billions from landmark climate legislation to advance clean energy initiatives.
“Our efforts have significantly reduced harmful greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, providing economic and public health benefits to communities historically burdened by pollution,” Regan wrote. The EPA’s initiatives also created jobs and lowered costs for families, he added.
As the first Black man to lead the EPA, Regan emphasized that his tenure placed environmental justice at the forefront. This commitment was showcased during his “Journey to Justice” tour in 2021, which traveled through low-income, predominantly minority communities from Jackson, Mississippi, to New Orleans and Houston. The tour highlighted the impacts of decades of industrial pollution on these areas.
