Ranking Members Lofgren and Amo Slam EPA for Elimination of Office of Research and Development

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified Congress of the elimination of the Office of Research and Development (ORD) - the office that develops the best available science and methods for EPA's use in decision making for protecting public health and the environment.

"The Trump Administration's attack on science is disastrous. Without a doubt, the American people will be harmed by this Administration's reckless decisions," said Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. "Just two days ago the EPA repealed the science-backed endangerment finding and today officially notified Congress what we knew all along - EPA's elimination of independent science at the agency. Despite EPA Administrator Zeldin's absurd denials, and Republicans' obsequious insistence that ORD was still functioning, the truth is finally revealed. Trump and Zeldin have no intention to follow the law and support the use of the best available science but instead get rid of research to allow companies to pollute our Earth without regard to the health of American people."

"Trump's destruction of the independent research office at EPA is now complete," said Congressman Gabe Amo, Ranking Member of the Environment Subcommittee. "Trump and Zeldin's reckless choice to shutter the office studying how to best protect Americans from pollutants, emissions, and climate change, will leave people sicker and worse off. Once again Trump is letting polluters run wild and showing he cares more about his wealthy friends than whether Americans have access to clean air and water."

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