The political attack on science escalates with EPA granting freeze

When I was asked by Times Higher Education about whether scientists should worry about the incoming US president, I pointed to the candidate’s stated position that he would abolish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Less than a week in, and Huffington Post reports that the agency has been instructed to freeze all its grants.

And on top of that, there’s a separate list of instructions for the EPA to not talk to anyone.

• No press releases will be going out to external audiences.
• No social media will be going out. ...
• No blog messages.

See also this NPR checklist about the new administration’s current record (such as it is) on scientific issues.

Look, any scientist looking at the rhetoric of the current president knew that things were going to get bad. But I somehow think a lot of them didn’t expect that it would be that bad, which this story seems to indicate it will be.

External links

Trump Administration Imposes Freeze On EPA Grants and Contracts
White House temporarily freezes EPA grants, contract
Information lockdown hits Trump’s federal agencies
As Feared, Early Reports Indicate the EPA Could Be Gutted
Donald Trump is getting ready to hammer the EPA
Trumpworld prepares to hammer the EPA