Is it too much to ask that the chief scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture have some background in science? President Trump seems to think so.
Sam Clovis, the President’s choice to hold the top science job at USDA, is the bigoted birther science-denier wingnut radio talk show host somehow nominated for a job that has been described as one of the most important science positions in the entire federal government. Yet it appears his only “qualification” for the job is that he spent time on the Trump campaign brown nosing and spreading lies in the press (like claiming that he had determined illegal immigrants were registering and voting with fraudulent documents). Now Clovis has been hand-picked by the President to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics – despite the fact that, among other outrageous statements, he has said on multiple occasions that climate change is “junk science,” “nonsensical,” “not proven,” and was “a big hustle” to redistribute wealth.
What could go wrong?
Well, a lot.
Unlike Clovis, my organization, Public Justice, works closely with independent family farmers and ranchers, and we know how critical they are to thriving rural communities. We also know that they are most at-risk for financial damage from the impacts of climate change. Those impacts that are already occurring: Ranches in Montana are sustaining heavy losses from drought, and may lose 12,000 jobs and $364 million in lost earnings. In an EPA page that was removed by the Trump Administration earlier this year, the agency discussed how high temperatures have already caused over $1 billion in heat-related losses in animal agriculture.
Catherine Woteki, the person who previously held the job Clovis now wants, was focused on exactly this issue – piloting research to help farmers cope with climate change – during her tenure. Unlike Clovis, Woteki had actual qualifications: She holds a Ph.D in human nutrition, was Dean of Agriculture and Professor of Human Nutrition at Iowa State University, Director of the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences, and served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as Deputy Associate Director for Science.
But she never hosted a conservative talk radio program, so there you have it.
But we’re not the only ones who think this post is too important to be held by the likes of Clovis. Congress, when they wrote the Farm Bill, also clearly outlined the kind of person who should hold the job. That federal law requires the person selected to be “from among distinguished scientists with specialized training or significant experience in agricultural research, education, and economics.” 7 U.S.C. § 6971(b). Congress outlined these requirements precisely because what farmers need right now is someone who understands science and can lead research programs to help our agriculture sector adapt to climate change, and not deny its existence. This last remaining vestige of science leadership in the federal government – one that is critical to the survival of our nation’s farmers – must be protected.
On these grounds alone, the Senate should reject the nomination. But Clovis’s well-documented comments on his now defunct blog and on his talk show also reveal him to be wildly racist, sexist, homophobic, and prone to toxic conspiracy theories. In light of the violence in Charlottesville, and Trump’s repugnant comments in the wake of that tragedy, Congress cannot afford to allow Trump to place another bigot in a high-level government position. The Senate’s approval of this nomination would show that the lessons learned in Charlottesville mean nothing, and that the message not just of this President, but the entire GOP, is that hate and white supremacy are institutionally sanctioned.
This job is too important to be held by a small-minded, prejudiced talk radio host with no experience or qualifications to speak of. As the Senate prepares to take up Clovis’s nomination, it is imperative that lawmakers understand how destructive this nominee would be. So please – on behalf of our country’s independent farmers, on behalf of our LGBT and immigrant family and neighbors, and on behalf of science, pick up the phone and call the capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected with your Senators. Tell them: Sam Clovis is unqualified for this job. His nomination must be rejected.
This post was co-authored by Public Justice Food Project Attorney Jessica Culpepper.
Image by Alex Hanson, via Flickr