PEER

Listen in as PEER Science Policy Director Dr. Kyla Bennett discusses the risks facing critical Environmental Protection U.S. Environmental Protection Agency programs designed to protect human health and the environment, and the real-world impacts of the loss of EPA scientists and policy experts.

The Trump administration is doing everything in its power to break the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]. Will the agency survive? This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug talk about the rise of anti-bacterial due to , and the EPA’s latest attempt to weaken drinking standards for PFAS chemicals. Then former EPA scientist Dr. Kyla Bennett, senior scientist at Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility [PEER], discusses how the critical EPA programs that were designed to protect and the are at risk under the current administration and how the loss of EPA scientists and policy experts could spell real trouble for us now and in the future.

Today at 2PM ET on WBAI 99.5 FM New York, Mondays at 2PM PT on KPFA Radio, Greenstreetnews on YouTube and always at Greenstreetnews.org

Certified fire incident communicators work within federal agencies to keep the public informed about fires via television, radio, and the press. Unfortunately, Interior Secretary Burgum's consolidation of agency communications has pulled many of these specialists away from their agencies and centralized communications under the Secretary's office.

According to anonymous sources who spoke with PEER, the transition has been haphazard. Standard, long-accepted federal personnel management practices are simply ignored, leaving civil servants in the dark with cratering morale.

At least five fire communications staffers have been assigned to other jobs by DOI communications leadership. Several others have retired early or found other jobs, seeking to get away from the uncertainty of constant change.

Inadequate fire communications don't just cause confusion — they can cost lives. Of course, we hope that doesn’t happen. But, if it does, it will be clear where the blame lies — with this administration.

Learn more in the latest commentary from PEER Senior Counsel Peter Jenkins.
https://ow.ly/809U50Z2e7T

Interior Secretary Burgum is Playing with Fire The Supreme Court has set the stage for a descent to authoritarian rule in a series of quick rulings that have favored President Trump.

A year ago, the Interior Department pitched a sweeping reorganization as a way to save money and streamline operations. On The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton, PEER Executive Director Tim Whitehouse joins to look at what the evidence actually shows about how that reorganization played out.

Reorganization plans can look clean on paper and turn out far messier in real life | Federal News Network They're moving things around on paper without recognizing the effects that may have in the communities throughout the country," Tim Whitehouse said.