EPA Drops Legal Complaint Against GEO Group, Major Trump Donor

‍ Updated June 13, 2025

Teh⁢ Environmental‍ Protection Agency (EPA) has withdrawn a legal complaint against the GEO Group, a major donor to former President ⁤Donald ‍Trump. The company holds over $1 billion in ‍contracts with the⁣ government ⁢to operate private prisons and ICE detention facilities. The EPA’s action raises concerns about potential political influence in⁤ environmental enforcement.

The now-withdrawn administrative complaint,initially filed‍ in June under the Biden management,concerned the GEO Group’s handling ⁤of the disinfectant Halt at the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in California. the EPA alleged that ‍GEO Group employees, on more than‍ 1,000 occasions in 2022 and 2023, used the product without required protective gear, despite its label warning of irreversible eye damage ‍and skin burns. The agency contended that employees wore nitrile exam gloves ⁤unsuitable for chemical protection.

The maximum penalty ⁤for the alleged misuse of Halt could have exceeded $4 million. ⁤Matthew Salazar, a manager within the EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division, filed a notice ‍Friday stating the case would be dropped, ⁢but the notice offered no description ‍for the decision.

Gary Jonesi, a former EPA attorney, characterized the withdrawal as “a complete surrender.” He suggested ⁣potential political⁤ intervention, given the GEO Group’s history as‍ a major ‍donor and beneficiary of ICE⁤ detention facility contracts. He also alluded to possible intimidation ⁢of career staff within the EPA.

A white House spokesperson acknowledged the GEO Group’s long-standing relationship with the Federal Bureau of Prisons ⁢and its status as a major federal contractor. The ⁢spokesperson did not comment on whether ⁢the White House influenced the EPA’s decision, referring inquiries to the agency.

The EPA, citing ‍longstanding practice, declined to comment on the litigation. The GEO Group did not ⁣respond‍ to requests for comment. In⁢ its response to the EPA’s complaint, the GEO Group asserted that Halt was applied ⁤correctly and that its employees used chemically resistant gloves.

The GEO⁤ Group has‍ a history of close ties to the Trump administration. Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, lobbied for the company in 2019. The GEO ⁣Group’s political action‍ committee was also the first corporation ⁢to “max out” ⁣contributions to Trump’s presidential campaign. According to OpenSecrets,the GEO Group,its PAC,and affiliated individuals contributed $3.7 million to candidates and political⁣ committees in the 2024 election cycle, with⁣ the ⁤vast majority⁤ going to Republicans.

In addition to the EPA complaint, the ⁢GEO ⁤group faces a separate lawsuit alleging that Adelanto detainees⁢ were sickened by the use of a different disinfectant, HDQ ⁣Neutral. The lawsuit claims detainees experienced⁢ nosebleeds, headaches, and dizziness due to ‍the chemical exposure. The EPA had previously ‍sent the company a warning‍ letter regarding the improper use⁤ of HDQ Neutral, citing similar complaints from detainees.

“This is a complete surrender. If this is ‍not due to political intervention on behalf of an early and large Trump donor⁤ who stands to gain⁢ from managing ICE detention facilities⁢ and private prisons, then surely it is indeed at least partly due to the intimidation that career staff feel⁢ in an habitat when federal employees are being fired and reassigned to undesirable tasks and locations.”

What’s next

The withdrawal of the EPA ‍complaint ‍leaves unanswered questions ⁣about ⁤the GEO group’s practices and the potential health risks to employees and detainees. The separate lawsuit concerning HDQ Neutral⁣ remains pending,⁢ and⁣ further scrutiny of ⁣disinfectant use in detention facilities is anticipated.