Who We Are
PEER is a nonprofit organization that protects the rights of public employees and elevates their voices on important environmental issues. Learn about our history and meet our experts.
What We Do
We defend government employees, including whistleblowers, free of charge. We expose government wrongdoing and work to strengthen environmental protections for all. Learn how we work.
Why It Matters
Our democracy is under attack like never before. Our work protecting the civil service and the environment is an essential part of a long-term battle to defend our nation’s values, and our future.
Helping Public Employees
Are you a current or former public employee seeking legal help with an environmental, public lands, public health, or whistleblower issue in your agency? All inquiries are confidential.
PEER In Action
Explore what PEER is doing to make a difference.
Report
The Trump administration has repeatedly shown that it will not enforce laws that do not serve its interests.
Lawsuit
We’re taking the Trump administration to court to stop its plan to pack the civil service with political loyalists
Webinar
Join PEER, the Environmental Protection Network, and special guests for a discussion on what we can do in the U.S. to counter attacks on climate programs.
The Latest News
Media Coverage
Inside Climate News
Feb 25, 2026
“They’re sucking the soul out of the agencies and they’re doing it on purpose,” said Tim Whitehouse, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a nonprofit that provides legal services to public employees. Administrative workers newly reorganized to Burgum’s office “have no clear management structure,” he said. “They often have no clear lines of authority. This is part of the effort by Secretary Burgum—the buck stops with him—to deconstruct his agency by creating trauma.”…
The Latest Press Releases
Newly released EPA Documents Support Employees Free Speech Rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, March 13, 2026 Contact: Joanna Citron Day, (240) 247-3081, [email protected] Newly released EPA Documents Support...
New Testing Detects Toxic PFAS in Herbicide Applied Across Public Lands
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, March 10, 2026 Contact: Chandra Rosenthal, (303) 898–0798, [email protected] David Jenkins, [email protected]...
PEER Opens Investigation into EPA’s Use of Artificial Intelligence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, March 5, 2026 Contact: Tim Whitehouse, (240) 247-0299, [email protected] Kevin Bell, (202) 946-3642 PEER...
Protect the Environment Support Public Employees
Working to Find Solutions
Learn how PEER tackles pressing challenges and delivers meaningful change
Featured Commentary Confronting the Rise of Authoritarianism
The the fate of our work protecting public employees and the environment is dependent on our ability to combat the rise in authoritarianism and promote democratic values in our country.
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Featured Area of WorkPublic Lands & Wildlife
America’s commons are under assault from commercial pressures, lack of funding and the complicity of officials who are supposed to be our custodians.
More Areas of Work
Featured Wins Successes
For over 30 years, we’ve worked to protect government whistleblowers and earn environmental victories across the nation.
More Accomplishments
