Fact check: Https://thehill.com/newsletters/energy-environment/5117647-epa-dismisses-science-advisers/

1. Summary of the results

The EPA, under acting director James Payne, has dismissed members of two key scientific advisory committees - the Science Advisory Board and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee ^[1]. The dismissed members were told they could reapply for their positions, with the EPA claiming this move was intended to "reverse the politicization" of these committees ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

• This is not an unprecedented action - similar resets of advisory committee memberships have occurred during previous presidential administration transitions ^[1].
• The dismissed committees serve a crucial function in providing independent scientific guidance on air quality standards and environmental policy recommendations ^[1].
• Notable dismissed members included panel chairs Jeremy Sarnat and Kimberly Jones, who expressed concerns about this disrupting the independent scientific review process ^[2].
• The Trump administration had previously conducted a similar dismissal of all members from both committees ^[3].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

This situation represents a classic conflict between different stakeholders:

• EPA Leadership's Perspective: Claims this is about "depoliticizing" the panels and reversing previous politicization ^[2].
• Critics' Perspective: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse characterizes this as a politically motivated purge aimed at replacing independent scientific advisers with industry-friendly voices ^[3]. He specifically argues this is about "rigging the system for polluters" ^[2].

The truth likely involves competing interests:

• Industry Benefits: If critics are correct, industrial polluters could benefit from potentially friendlier advisory panels
• Political Benefits: Each administration benefits from having advisory panels aligned with their policy goals
• Scientific Community Concerns: The scientific community, represented by dismissed chairs like Sarnat and Jones, loses continuity in their oversight role

This pattern of dismissals and claims of "depoliticization" by both sides suggests that these scientific advisory roles have become increasingly politicized, regardless of which administration is making changes.