EPA closes Kansas City-area facilities, citing ‘threat of violence’
The Environmental Protection Agency temporarily closed its facilities in the Kansas City-area on Friday, citing an undisclosed “threat of violence” that raised concerns about employee safety.
EPA Region 7, which is headquartered in Lenexa and oversees the Kansas City region, confirmed the closure in a statement to The Star on Friday. The statement did not clarify more details about the alleged threat, saying only that it happened Thursday evening.
“On the evening of June 12, 2025, EPA Region 7 received a threat of violence that raised concerns about employee safety,” the statement from spokesperson Shannan B. Beisser said. “Out of an abundance of caution, EPA Region 7’s Kansas City-area locations were closed for Friday, June 13, 2025, and employees were authorized to telework.”
Beisser said employees were notified of the closure through EPA’s emergency alert system and that the alert was issued for Friday only.
“Employee safety is of the utmost importance to EPA Region 7, and the leadership team will continue to monitor this situation and keep employees informed of any changes,” the statement said.
While the EPA’s statement did not clarify more details about the threat, the closure comes a day before anticipated national demonstrations on Saturday, including in Kansas City, to protest President Donald Trump. On that day, Trump also plans to hold a military parade in Washington, D.C.
Ahead of the planned protests, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe activated the Missouri National Guard, declaring a state of emergency, despite no evidence of riots or other widespread violence in the state.
The Republican governor, in his announcement on Thursday, singled out Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield and other “affected communities” in Missouri where events were occurring or “could occur” that create hazards for people and property beyond the resources of local officials.
The EPA, a federal agency, is charged with enforcing environmental protection efforts across the country. The agency’s Region 7 office oversees efforts in both Kansas and Missouri as well as in Iowa and Nebraska.
