As a former senior executive and whistleblower at the Interior Department, I have been paying close attention to what President Biden’s Day One actions mean for my former agency. There are more announcements to come—and it’s important for the science community to make sure these announcements turn into real action—but so far this is a super start and good news for the agency’s mission. Read more >

President Biden’s Fast Start at the Interior Department
January 26, 2021 8:24 AM EDT

Internal Emails Show Discord as Interior Department Moves to Gut Migratory Birds Rule
December 2, 2020 4:34 PM EDT
If the Department of the Interior had listened to legal and public opinion, it would have dropped its efforts to finalize a rule allowing the deaths of thousands of migratory birds. Instead the effort goes on, even as newly revealed emails show that Interior upended the normal review process for its controversial reinterpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Read more >

Trump’s Rushed Oil Leasing in the Arctic: A Dumpster Fire of Desperation, Greed, and Crippling Loyalty Tests
November 25, 2020 12:26 PM EDT
The Trump administration is desperate to lock the federal government into binding contracts for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This is the ultimate goal of all their science-busting, and runs counter to their stewardship responsibilities on behalf of all Americans. Read more >

Want More Science-Based Policies? Start by Protecting the Scientists
November 25, 2020 10:35 AM EDT
President-elect Biden has repeatedly said that he will listen to the scientists. While this is certainly a welcome change, listening can only take us so far. We need action to establish scientific integrity policies and laws that prevent the suppression and distortion of scientific research, prohibit retaliations against scientists, and usher in a new era of science-based policymaking. Read more >

Interior Department Suppresses Study on Polar Bears to Plunder Alaska’s Arctic, Then Caves to Pressure
October 7, 2020 3:51 PM EDT
Interior’s decision to allow drilling in the Alaskan Arctic skirts the law and sidelines science in order to make a wholly political decision. And that’s wrong. Read more >