A new estimate from the Guttmacher Institute calculates the impact of the Title X gag rule: a 47% drop in the program’s capacity to serve female patients, most of whom have low incomes and few other options for receiving high-quality family planning services.
Environmental Health
How the Trump administration silences science, to the detriment of public health
A new three-part series from Robin Young and Serena McMahon for WBUR’s Here & Now delves into ways the Trump administration is silencing science. It basically comes down to ignoring scientists’ input when it demonstrates the need for regulation, and making scientific work for the federal government miserable.
An important new piece by Sharon Lerner at the The Intercept describes how the Trump administration is gutting toxics regulations, and what that means in terms of increased cancer rates.
Environmental Health
“The disregard for expertise in the federal government is worse than it’s ever been”
Two year-end pieces from the New York Times capture the Trump administration’s awful toll on public health.
Jack Mitchell’s impressive career involved investigative reporting for CNN, many years of government service, and serving as director of health policy at the nonprofit National Center for Health Research. In addition to being a fighter for public health, he was a thoughtful and generous collaborator.
Recent pieces address EPA’s proposed rule that would devastate public health protections, the reproductive justice movement, unsafe water in rural California communities, and more.
Last year, many of us spoke out forcefully against a horrible EPA proposal that would allow the agency to ignore important studies when regulating, on the pretext of increasing transparency. Rather than using the extensive criticism to engage in a more thorough and appropriate process — or, as many of us recommended, scrap the proposal altogether — EPA has apparently made it more far-reaching and disastrous for public health.
Recent pieces address the life of Elijah Cummings, how science has suffered during Trump’s first 1,000 days, clinics that have lost funding under the Title X gag rule, pandemic preparedness, and more.
Scientific Integrity & Ethics
Scientific Integrity Act passes out of committee with votes from both parties
Following a significant amendment, the Scientific Integrity Act passed the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 25-6.
Environmental Health
Trump’s EPA disbanded pollution advisory panel, so they’re reconvening on their own
Last year, the Trump administration EPA dismissed the Particulate Matter Review Panel, leaving the agency and its primary group of clean air advisors without the expertise they need to thoroughly update air pollution standards. The review panel’s scientists are so committed to their work that they’ve decided to meet and provide their crucial advice even without the federal government’s blessing.