Wyden, Merkley seek probe of Interior Dept. political interference

Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., joined their colleagues Tuesday in calling on the Department of the Interior’s inspector general to investigate political interference in scientific research or communications at the agency. In the letter, the senators highlighted results of a recent study published by Union of Concerned Scientists that found a significant percentage of scientists working across federal agencies – including the NPS, Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey – are concerned about the influence of political appointees on their work. They also note previous activities by DOI leadership that illustrate their animosity towards science, including the implementation of an unprecedented grant review by a political appointee late last year as well as requests for steep budget cuts to science-based programs, such as the Climate Adaptation Science Centers at USGS. The letter followed up on reporting from Reveal, from the Center for Investigative Reporting, which suggested that DOI employees have been internally editing out any mentions of anthropogenic climate change from a past-due National Park Service scientific report...MORE