8 Senators Call for Probe of ‘Arbitrary’ Reassignment of Fed Scientists

"The senators' letter, following a whistleblower complaint from a climate scientist in the Interior Department, says there may be as many as 50 similar cases."

"Eight U.S. senators called for an investigation today after a federal climate scientist filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that he had been arbitrarily reassigned by the Trump administration in what he believed was retaliation for speaking out publicly about the dangers climate change poses to Alaska Native communities.

The scientist, Joel Clement, had been working on climate adaptation in Alaska for the Department of Interior when he was moved to an obscure accounting position that deals with fossil fuel royalty payments.

The senators, all members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, asked the deputy inspector general in the Department of Interior to look into allegations that as many as 50 Senior Executive Service employees at the department has been arbitrarily reassigned."

Sabrina Shankman reports for InsideClimate News July 24, 2017.

SEE ALSO:

"I’m a Scientist. I’m Blowing The Whistle On The Trump Administration." (Washington Post)

"After He Spoke Out On Climate Change, Scientist Says He Was Demoted" (NPR)

"Whistleblower Case Shows How Trump Tries to Silence Science" (InsideClimate News)