Two American Federation of Government Employees locals, including Local 3248 in Lowell, filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. District Court in Boston on September 29, 2026. The complaint says the agency is seeking to void their collective bargaining agreement and to curb protests by government scientists.
The filing alleges that the EPA, under its head Lee Zeldin, is attempting to discard the contract and silence scientists who oppose the agency’s coal‑friendly policies, raising concerns about violations of collective‑bargaining rights and First Amendment protections.
The lawsuit follows recent EPA rollbacks of environmental regulations, prompting employee groups to voice worries about labor and speech rights within the agency.