"A group of scientists is suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for blocking scientists who receive agency funding from serving on the EPA's advisory boards.

The non-profit Protect Democracy, representing the Union of Concerned Scientists, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday, claiming the policy violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act and 'is an attack on science itself.'

'By accusing academic and non-profit grant-funded scientists of having a conflict of interest, [EPA Administrator Scott] Pruitt seeks to portray legitimate, independent scientists — who provide accurate, evidence-based information backed by verifiable, peer-reviewed research in order to inform environmental policy — as just another interest group seeking to advance an agenda,' Protect Democracy wrote in a blog post."

Jacqueline Thomsen reports for The Hill January 23, 2018. [2]