The GAO issued a report on how the EPA has been skirting its own protocols when picking scientific advisory committees.
What happened: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been skirting its own protocols when picking scientific advisory committees. This secretive process ignored staff recommendations and resulted in stacking scientific advisory committees with industry representatives relative to individuals from academia without any documented justification.
Why it matters: By carrying out a secretive process that altered the historical protocol of picking members, the EPA has placed less qualified individuals at the helm of scientific advisory committees. Scientific advisory committees provide the agency with the best available science on pressing issues and therefore play a vital role in safeguarding the health and safety of Americans.
Learn more about how EPA’s advisory committees have been faring under the Trump administration.