CalEPA to carry on inspections as federal EPA furloughs 90% of staff

Chaewon Chung, The Sacramento Bee on Oct 2, 2025

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While the government shutdown has furloughed about 90% of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency employees and halted the agency’s inspection operations, the California Environmental Protection Agency told The Sacramento Bee on Thursday it will proceed with its inspections “as planned.”

According to the EPA’s updated contingency plan, civil enforcement inspections stop during a funding lapse “unless necessary for excepted or exempted activities,” meaning the process of monitoring and investigating potential violations of federal environmental laws at regulated facilities are largely suspended.

It has also stopped issuing environmental permits, rules and policies, except in exempted or excepted cases.

“Congressional Democrats have chosen to shut down the government. If they want to reopen the government, they can choose to do so at any time,” an EPA spokesperson said in an email to The Bee on Thursday.

CalEPA has enforcement power itself, but five boards and departments under the agency also carry out inspection and enforcement work. They are the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) together with its Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB).

According to the state agency’s 2022 Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report, they enforce state environmental laws governing air pollution, water quality, drinking water, hazardous waste and other toxic substances.

Ahead of the government shutdown, Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, pointed out the EPA would halt inspections at “most hazardous waste sites, as well as drinking water and chemical facilities,” warning that efforts to address PFAS, or “forever chemicals” linked to potential health risks like cancer, could also be delayed during the shutdown.

“Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are refusing to negotiate in good faith, blocking legislation that would keep the government funded and operational while also providing the cost relief people need,” Matsui’s office stated.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service in Sacramento remains operational 24/7, and “all products and services will continue uninterrupted” during the government shutdown, the NWS said in an email to The Bee on Thursday.

According to the NWS, its staff is labeled as “excepted public safety federal employees,” though this status does not apply to all of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA’s website currently displays a message warning that some parts of the website may not be updated “until after appropriations are enacted.”

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