I am personally acquainted with a high-ranking person at EPA. He has been there since 1975 or so. He told me a long time ago how the Reagan administration had simply dismantled programs that took years to create, and decided that certain issues would just be ignored or handled 'differently'. He recently told me that in his area of expertise, his input on certain issues was not required. Decisions about them were being made according to policy, not science.
   Many areas of EPA were simply spinning their wheels, doing almost nothing, or putting rubber stamps on policies sent over from 'elsewhere'.

I asked him why there wasn't more 'whistle blowing', and he said that whistle blowers usually get transferred or marginalized, and that IF we get a new administration with a better attitude, it is important that those who know & care retain a reputation for not being malcontents and trouble makers so that they can be trusted to administer the policy changes honestly.
   a delicate line to walk, but I see his point.