Several months after undermining the independence of one of EPA’s main advisory committees, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt attacked the independence of another, the Science Advisory Board (SAB), by ordering that no scientists receiving EPA grant funding could serve on the SAB.
What Happened: Several months after undermining the independence of one of EPA’s main advisory committees, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt attacked the independence of another, the Science Advisory Board (SAB), by ordering that no scientists receiving EPA grant funding could serve on the SAB. Industry scientists faced no additional restrictions on service, and the new board more than doubled the number of industry representatives.
Why it Matters: This decision bans some independent scientists from providing expertise while giving those with conflicts of interests a free pass. The SAB is intended to provide impartial science advice to decision makers, and undermining its independence by excluding the most qualified scientists will likely impact the quality of policies intended to protect the health of the public and our environment.