Judges question power to decide science advisers dispute

摘要

A group of federal judges today appeared unconvinced that they had the authority to weigh in on acontroversial policy limiting membership on EPA's science advisory panels.A 2017 directive from then-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt blocked recipients of EPA grants fromparticipating on the agency's advisory boards, resulting in the removal of scientists from those committees.Judges for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today heard arguments inPhysicians for Social Responsibility v. Wheeler, one of several pending legal battles over the EPA policy."It seems to me it's just an internal directive," said Senior Judge Douglas Ginsburg, a Reagan appointee tothe D.C. Circuit.