House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has launched an investigation into the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The inquiry focuses on the National Academies’ decision to “fast-track” a review of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rescinding of its 2009 Endangerment Finding without receiving authorization from any U.S. government agency.
In a letter addressed to Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences, Comer requested documents and communications related to the expedited review process as well as information about potential partisan bias within it.
“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 original 2009 Endangerment Finding identified greenhouse gas emissions as pollutants subject to federal regulation. Past administrations used this finding to regulate emissions from various sectors including automobiles, aircraft, agriculture equipment, and fossil fuel producers. Such regulations have led to significant costs—estimated at more than $1 trillion—and higher energy prices for consumers.
Concerns were also raised about possible conflicts of interest among committee members involved in the fast-track review. According to Comer’s letter, these individuals did not disclose potential conflicts despite requirements under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Since no federal agency requested or authorized this study, there is concern that private donors with strong views on climate change may have influenced its direction.
“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 (https://comer.house.gov/about). He previously served in Kentucky’s House of Representatives from 2001 until 2012 before joining Congress later that decade (https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C001108). Born in Carthage, Tennessee in 1972, he now resides in Tompkinsville at age fifty. Comer graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor’s degree in science.
The full letter sent by Chairman Comer can be accessed online.
