House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has opened an investigation into the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine regarding its decision to quickly review the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) move to rescind its 2009 Endangerment Finding. Comer sent a letter to Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences, requesting documents and communications about the fast-track review and any possible partisan bias involved.
“The National Academies, without any apparent request from a U.S. Government agency or entity, announced on August 7 that it would conduct a fast-tracked review of evidence gathered since 2009 for whether greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare, and pledged to complete and publicly release its report in September. In 1863, Congress established the National Academy of Sciences as a federally chartered corporation to provide independent, objective advice on science for the United States Government at its request,” wrote Chairman Comer. “This decision appears to be inconsistent with the purpose of the National Academies and a blatant partisan act to undermine the Trump Administration. With such an unprecedented short timeline for reviewing evidence gathered over a 16-year period, the Committee is additionally concerned that the results of this study have been predetermined.”
The Endangerment Finding from 2009 classified greenhouse gas emissions as pollutants subject to federal regulation. This designation was used by previous administrations to regulate emissions across various sectors including automobiles, aircraft, agriculture equipment, and fossil fuel producers. According to Comer’s letter, these regulations led to costs exceeding $1 trillion and higher energy expenses for consumers.
Comer raised concerns about possible conflicts of interest among committee members conducting the review. He noted that members did not disclose their potential conflicts despite requirements under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Since no federal agency requested or authorized this study, Comer questioned whether private donors with strong views on climate change influenced its initiation.
“The Committee is concerned that this study is being conducted with partisan aims in mind, as the National Academy of Sciences has made several questionable decisions in past years while under [Ms. McNutt’s] leadership, exposing potential partisan bias. In 2021, the organization endorsed President Biden’s selection for his Top Science Advisor, despite his history of failing to disclose conflicts of interest and understating the contributions of his colleagues in developing a biotechnology. The organization has also conducted politicized DEI-focused research and studies. Members of the committee conducting this fast-tracked study have also shown partisan bias,” concluded Chairman Comer. “Given these positions and affiliations, it is unlikely these individuals can conduct an impartial scientific review and the Committee has serious concerns that the National Academy of Sciences appears to be enabling the aforementioned partisan conflicts of interest.”
James Comer currently represents Kentucky’s 1st district in Congress after replacing Ed Whitfield in 2016. Before serving in Congress, he was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2001 to 2012. Comer was born in Carthage, Tennessee in 1972 and lives in Tompkinsville. He graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in 1993.
The full letter addressed to Marcia McNutt can be accessed here.
