Staff
from the EPA’s Office of Water were summoned to a town hall meeting
this week and told to pause the publication of most research, pending a
review.
Staff
from the EPA’s Office of Water were summoned to a town hall meeting
this week and instructed to halt work on most ongoing research papers.
The researchers were told that unless scientific journals had already
returned proofs — the final step in the academic publication process —
the studies would be subject to a new review process, the two employees
said.
The order to reevaluate all manuscripts came from political appointees, the employees said.
EPA
press secretary Brigit Hirsch said the agency will continue its work to
protect human health and the environment but did not provide details
about the new review process.
“Great
scientific work is continuing at EPA like never before,” Hirsch said.
“We are confident EPA has the resources needed to accomplish the
agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment,
fulfill all statutory obligations, and make the best-informed decisions
based on the gold standard of science.”
Staff
within the Office of Water have asked for an explanation they can send
to scientific journals that ask why their papers are on pause, but staff
have so far not received a response from higher-ups, one of the
employees said.
Both
employees said that the imposition of this type of review is
unprecedented and warned that it could stymie the release of scientific
findings important to preserving public health.
The
Office of Water works to ensure the safety of the nation’s drinking
water and the health of coastal and other aquatic environments.
Scientists in the office conduct and publish research assessing how to
keep water safe for drinking and for recreational use, as well as
analyzing environmental concerns related to water quality.
In recent months, EPA scientists have contributed to studies in scientific journals on subjects such as PFAS and microplastics in urban sewer overflows, comparisons of different methods for testing drinking water for lead, and groundwater pollution by naturally occurring arsenic.
Details about the review process remain unclear.
“This
represents millions of dollars of research, potentially, that’s now
being stopped,” one of the employees said, adding that Americans “aren’t
going to benefit from the release of this science.”
In July, the EPA announced plans to dismantle its scientific research branch,
the Office of Research and Development, which had been tasked with
conducting independent research to assess impacts on human health and
the environment. The agency did not confirm how many staff members from
the office were reassigned or terminated.
Hirsch
said there are ongoing conversations with staff about their new
responsibilities and how they align with the agency’s core mission.
The move to halt the agency’s scientific research has prompted concern from scientists and environmental groups that findings could be altered to conform to the Trump administration’s political agenda.
“Science
is not supposed to be political,” said Kyla Bennett, the director of
science policy at Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
“Science is supposed to transcend politics and inform decision-making at
the EPA.”
Nicole
Cantello, president of AFGE Local 704, which represents 1,000 EPA
workers in Chicago, said that delaying or otherwise impeding the release
of scientific findings violates the agency’s scientific integrity
policy.
“It
results in the further erosion of the public’s trust in EPA and its
ability to protect human health and the environment,” Cantello said.