While we’re bitching at Scott Pruitt, let’s not miss the news from the Interior Department:
Separately, Zinke has postponed all outside committees as he reviews their composition and work. The review will effectively freeze the work of the Bureau of Land Management’s 30 resource advisory committees, along with other panels focused on a range of issues, from one assessing the threat of invasive species to the science technical advisory panel for Alaska’s North Slope.
“The Secretary is committed to restoring trust in the Department’s decision-making and that begins with institutionalizing state and local input and ongoing collaboration, particularly in communities surrounding public lands,” Interior spokeswoman Heather Swift said by email Monday. “As the Department concludes its review in the weeks ahead, agencies will notice future meetings to ensure that the Department continues to get the benefit of the views of local communities in all decision-making on public land management.”
Because nothing says restoring trust better than stopping the work of your department. Seriously, these are advisory boards. Pruitt and Zinke are free to ignore their advice. When you’re afraid of advice, you’re doing something wrong, don’t you think?