Advisory Committee Shakeup Targets Independent Science and Scientists

Published May 10, 2017

The Trump administration is actively working to strip away the independence of science advisory committees at several government agencies. 

On May 5, 2017, the EPA failed to renew nine members on the Board of Scientific Counselors, the advisory committee that reviews the work of scientists within the EPA’s Office of Research and Development on everything from chemical safety to air pollution to fracking.

The incident illustrates the Trump administration's efforts to take a backdoor approach to putting politics over science, part of a full-on assault to strip away the independence of advisory committees at several government agencies. The reason? A renewed interest in shaping policies to fit particular political positions rather than having a basis in strong science.