President Trump issued an Executive Order to rid federal agencies of one-third of their advisory committees, many of which provide scientific advice to federal agencies.
What Happened: President Trump issued an Executive Order to rid federal agencies of one-third of their 1,057 advisory committees, many of which provide scientific advice to federal agencies. The order will prevent several scientists and scientific experts from providing federal agencies with guidance on key policy decisions.
Why it Matters: Many advisory committees provide independent scientific advice to federal agencies and act as a check point to ensure that the agency is making a decision that is based on the best available science, not the whims of politicians. Cutting thousands of advisory committees may result in policies that are not informed by the best available science and this would put the health of our environment and the public at risk.
Learn more about President Trump's Executive Order and why it hurts federal agencies.