Comer, Norman Slam Biden for Removing Qualified Scientist Overseeing National Climate Assessment

“The Biden Administration is continuing to purge officials in the government based on their ties to the Trump Administration.”

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) sent a letter to the Deputy Director for Climate and Environment Dr. Jane Lubchenco requesting all documents and communications related to the decision to remove Dr. Betsy Weatherhead from her position at the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) as Director of the National Climate Assessment.

“We are conducting oversight on the decision to remove Dr. Betsy Weatherhead, a qualified and dedicated atmospheric scientist, from her position at the Office of Science and Technology Policy supervising the U.S. government’s report on climate change,” wrote the lawmakers. “While Dr. Weatherhead has decades of experience in climate science, both in the private sector and academic arena, it appears the Biden Administration is continuing to purge officials in the government based on their ties to the Trump Administration.”

Dr. Weatherhead has decades of experience in climate science and was hired as a career civil service employee in November 2020. When Dr. Weatherhead was selected as the Director of the National Climate Assessment, she received widespread adulation from Democrats, Republicans, and even Obama Administration officials.

In order to better understand the Biden Administration’s rationale for removing Dr. Weatherhead from her post, Comer and Norman call on Deputy Director Lubchenco to provide all documents and communications related to the decision. 

Read the full letter here.