"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will no longer defend a policy that blocked scientists from serving on its committees if they receive agency funding for their research.

The controversial 2017 policy created under former Administrator Scott Pruitt is credited with skewing the EPA’s advisory boards in favor of industry representatives while booting academics.

The EPA has lost three suits challenging the policy, with each decision released this spring.

The agency announced Wednesday it will not appeal the decisions, adding it 'will continue to follow the relevant policies as they existed before issuance of the 2017 directive.'"

Rebecca Beitsch reports for The Hill June 24, 2020. [2]