What happened: In April 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Chief of Staff sent an official memo to the EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to place restrictions on their ability to communicate about their work. Specifically, the memo directed SAB members – a group of independent scientists that give advice to the EPA administrator – to not respond to questions, formal or informal, from outside the committee without EPA approval. The memo’s language is vague enough that it could prevent SAB members from communicating publicly about any scientific issue under consideration by the committee, even in a personal capacity.
Why it matters: The EPA relies on science advice from groups of outside experts like SAB and, by restricting SAB members’ ability to communicate, the EPA is casting a chilling effect on the ability of independent scientists to speak about their work. SAB members provide independent advice on issues like air pollution, water pollution, toxic substances, climate change and more. When SAB members are not able to speak to the public about their work, the public is less informed on issues that can have substantial impacts to their health and safety.
Learn more about how the EPA restricted SAB members from speaking to the public.