Science Advisory Committees

Though little known to the public, federal science advisory committees play a key role in meeting policymakers’ need for access to independent science advice. Unfortunately, they have also been targets of political interference and neglect, which reached unprecedented levels under the Trump administration.


White House

Trump Axing Advisory Committees Is Bad for Farmers and Nation’s Food Supply

, Economist

September 30, 2019 3:51 PM EDT

Earlier this summer, the Trump administration issued an Executive Order that would arbitrarily eliminate one-third of all federal advisory committees (FACs) not mandated by statute across the government, while restricting an agency’s ability to form new FACs. FACs provide an avenue for outside experts and stakeholders to weigh in on federal programs and policies, including roughly 150 that advise the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a variety of food and farming issues. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and other agency and department heads have until today to make these cuts. Read more >

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Brace Yourself for Unhealthy Air: The Trump Administration Weakens Clean Air Protections

, Research Director, Center for Science and Democracy

April 13, 2018 9:41 AM EDT

The president’s order is bad news for anyone that breathes air in this country. Read more >

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Photo: sharply_done/iStockphoto

New Report Reveals Trump Administration Is Abandoning Science Advice

, Lead science and policy analyst

January 18, 2018 6:56 AM EDT

Experts serving as members of federal advisory committees are being frozen out of the very avenues that were designed to encourage external input on scientific issues to the federal government. Read more >

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The EPA Science Advisory Board Is Being Compromised. Here’s Why That Matters.

, Deputy director, Center for Science & Democracy

October 30, 2017 11:15 AM EDT

Nothing good happens when independent experts are replaced by people who have financial incentives to skew the scientific analysis in the direction of the companies they represent. Read more >

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EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Accelerates Politicization of Agency’s Science Advisory Board

, Deputy director, Center for Science & Democracy

October 17, 2017 5:45 PM EDT

Earlier today, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt strongly suggested that the agency will not consider any candidate for EPA’s science advisory committees who has received a grant from the agency. Such a gobsmackingly boneheaded move would further hamstring the ability of the EPA to accomplish its public health mission. The administrator is directly challenging the intent of Congress, which established the Science Advisory Board to provide independent scientific advice so that EPA can effectively protect our health and environment. Read more >

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