EPA Dismisses Staff Following Controversial Posts on Charlie Kirk’s Death
Reports have emerged that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) terminated staff members after they shared social media posts celebrating the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Screenshots show various staff members had posted images linked to Kirk’s death, featuring violent and explicit content. Numerous universities and organizations have reacted strongly against these posts, with some prominent figures issuing apologies for previous comments about Kirk following his murder.
One notable screenshot displayed an image of a man resembling Kirk, bleeding from the neck, with a caption suggesting disarray. Another post featured cartoon characters alongside the words expressing hope that right-wing commentators “prune what they sow.” (Related: A recent poll indicated more than half of voters believe private companies have the right to fire individuals who celebrate assassinations online.)
Further posts from some EPA employees hinted at Kirk’s controversial standing, including references that paired him with Ashli Babbitt, who was killed during the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. Many of these images were blurred in the reports due to their explicit nature.
Kirk was shot and killed on September 10 while speaking at an event for Turning Point USA at Utah Valley University. Following Kirk’s death, several officials within the administration, including EPA head Lee Zeldin, expressed their condolences.
Notably, President Donald Trump and other high-profile figures were present at Kirk’s memorial service on September 21.
A recent opinion survey from Neapolitan News Service revealed that 51% of voters believe private firms should fire employees who celebrate assassinations, using Kirk’s case as a critical example. The poll noted that Democrats represented the majority among those supportive of such firings.
In response to inquiries, the EPA remarked that the agency has not commented on specific staff matters and was unable to reach the individuals involved.
