NW Kentucky News

House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer is scrutinizing the Biden-Harris Administration's scientific integrity committees. He claims these committees are politicizing science and allowing federal bureaucrats to influence agency policy. Comer has sent letters to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking information for the investigation.

Comer stated, "The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the Biden-Harris Administration’s establishment of government-wide scientific integrity committees with possible intent to interfere with the executive authority of future presidential administrations." He expressed concern that these efforts might entrench current policies without considering new scientific advances while empowering unelected officials.

The administration issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to form a Task Force on Scientific Integrity. This memorandum requires each agency to establish specific scientific integrity policies, appoint chief science officers, and create advisory committees. Comer argues this could increase political involvement in science-related processes.

Comer further commented, "It is likely that the goal of these scientific integrity efforts is less to ensure the best science is considered when making policy decisions and more to buttress support for and entrench far-left progressive policies in the administrative state."

The letters sent by Comer can be accessed through links provided for HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and EPA Administrator Michael Regan.