Nominee for USDA's Chief Scientist Not a Scientist

[struggle4progress]

September 4, 2017 6:00 AM ET
AMY MAYER

The chief scientist of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is typically a low-profile job in any presidential administration. But President Trump's nomination of his former Iowa campaign manager for the post is raising concern in the scientific community and beyond about the politicization of science policy in the Trump administration.

Among the concerns: Clovis isn't a scientist. He holds a doctorate, but it's in public administration and not a scientific discipline.

If confirmed, Clovis would oversee the agency's $3 billion research budget, which funds, among other things, research to help farmers and ranchers adapt to climate change. Clovis is currently the White House liaison to USDA.

As a Senate candidate in 2014, Clovis told Iowa Public Radio that he was skeptical that human activity is driving climate change ...

http://www.npr.org/2017/09/04/547934012/trumps-nominee-to-be-usdas-chief-scientist-is-not-a-scientist

[northoftheborder]

1. Another BAD, BADER, BADEST

Last edited Mon Sep 4, 2017, 07:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Also BADLY

[Buns_of_Fire]

2. He'll fit in well with the Department of Education head who isn't an educator,

the EPA head who couldn't care less about the environment, the Department of Energy head who has to leave a trail of bread crumbs every evening so he can find his way back to the office in the morning, etc., etc. All nominated by a president who isn't a president.

[bitterross]

3. Normally, I'd Say this is Okay. PhD in Public Administration. Not in this case.

Normally, I might think that a person with a PhD in Public Administration would be a good candidate for a department head. The problem here the the policy influence.

If it were a matter of just running a large public administration this person might be a great fit. But, it isn't a matter of just that. The fact these people influence policy is the problem. This person will be a hack for Trump/Mercer/Kochs.

Mostly, I'd like to know how friendly this person is with Monsanto and Bayer.

[mjvpi]

4. We only believe in science that has been vetted by Aynn Rand.

[malaise]

5. Jebus Fugging Krist

When is enough enough?