"If they try to enforce their anti-climate prejudice, they’re going to end up inevitably hurting people’s health as well."

The Trump administration has placed on leave nearly 200 employees who work on environmental justice programs at the Environmental Protection Agency, and is pursuing staff reductions in similar programs at the Justice Department.

The Boston staffers are part of a nationwide sweep of EPA offices that put 168 workers on administrative leave this week. It follows President Trump’s executive actions calling for an end to equity, diversity and environmental justice programs.

The administration plans to close the Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental justice office and remake the Justice Department’s environmental division.

In an email obtained by NPR, employees at EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights were told they were on administrative leave, effective immediately.

The Trump administration placed at least 160 Environmental Protection Agency employees on paid leave Thursday evening effective immediately.