We've filed comments opposing the Office of Personnel Management's proposed rule that would make it easier for agencies to place federal employees who may face layoffs into indefinite paid leave without any way to challenge it. https://ow.ly/kFcP50ZuiVi

PEER: OPM Rule Creates Back Door Around Federal Workforce Protections

Proposed Rule Would Gut Reduction in Force Protections and Violate the Administrative Leave Act

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💧 A new report by PEER and Waterkeepers Florida finds that the majority of Florida's waterways are failing to meet state water quality standards while enforcement of the state's environmental laws remains far below historical levels. https://ow.ly/1h4v50ZtPoF #Florida #WaterPollution

New Report Finds Majority of Florida Waterways Fail Water Quality Standards

State Pollution Enforcement Actions Remain Near Historic Lows as Population Explodes

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A proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget would dramatically expand political control over how the federal government awards grants — not just for science, but for education, conservation, public health, and disaster relief too. https://ow.ly/W9TH50Zsla5

The Administration's New Grant Rule Isn't About Science. It's About Power.

The OMB's proposed overhaul of how the federal government awards grants would dramatically expand political control over how taxpayer dollars are distributed.

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We've submitted comments opposing an OPM/MSPB draft rule that is part of an effort to strip protections from federal workers and convert the civil service from a nonpartisan body into one that answers to the political leaders of the moment. https://ow.ly/52sp50ZrXfM

PEER Comments in Opposition to OPM-MSPB “Promoting Employee Accountability” Rule

Rule is Part of a Broader Effort to “Return Our Government to the Spoils System”

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We've filed comments calling on the Office of Management and Budget to withdraw its proposed overhaul of the federal grantmaking system, warning that the rule would institutionalize political cronyism, destroy American science, and threaten the separation of powers. https://ow.ly/jSoX50ZmZwU

PEER Warns OMB Grant Proposal Would Institutionalize Corruption and Destroy American Science

Administration Seeks Complete Political Control Over Federal Grant Funds

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fired Kip Tyler after he raised the need to monitor for microplastic pollution in the permit for the first aquaculture project in federal waters. PEER is representing Tyler in challenging his dismissal. https://ow.ly/QJ6h50ZmUe0

EPA’s Dire Fear of Addressing Microplastic Pollution

EPA Engineer Fired after Asking for Microplastic Monitoring in Permit

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Is our legal system ready to grant rights to nature? Keith Kozloff, a former federal environmental economist, outlines the Rights of Nature movement's history and makes a case for establishing the legal rights of nature in the United States. https://ow.ly/Jsgx50ZkKOZ #RightsOfNature

Is Our Legal System Ready to Grant Rights to Nature?

With the natural environment under assault by the current administration, perhaps the time is ripe to consider granting legal rights to nature.

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We are part of a coalition of environmental and scientific organizations, represented by Earthjustice, who today filed a petition asking the FCC to complete a comprehensive environmental review before licensing satellite-based data centers. https://ow.ly/wb1o50ZlJ5p

Coalition Calls for Rigorous Federal Review of Space-Based Data Center Proposals

As companies make plans to launch more than a million data centers into space, FCC must provide oversight and conduct a thorough review of the risks and impacts of these projects to ensure they are not causing irreparable environmental harm to our planet.

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The conservation success in recovering Pacific gray whales is now at risk due to accelerating mortality from multiple threats, including ship strikes and reduced food sources. As of July 6, 145 gray whale stranding deaths have been reported. https://ow.ly/R7xh50Zl7jg

Gray Whales Suffering “Catastrophic Mortality Event”

Strandings So Far in 2026 Setting a Deadly Pace

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America's 250th birthday should be a moment that brings us together. Unfortunately, what should be a nonpartisan celebration has become a growing scandal: secrecy, political favoritism, and the diversion of significant taxpayer funds and resources to Freedom 250. https://ow.ly/sukL50ZjKPI

OSC Senior Counsel Charles Baldis allowed the Office of Personnel Management to keep asking federal job applicants to write essays on how they would further President Trump's policies. He has now been nominated to serve as the next Special Counsel. https://ow.ly/PPaE50ZiHl9

Illegal Trump Loyalty Oaths Disrupt Federal Hiring

Official Who Approved Job Applicant Essays Nominated as Special Counsel

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The number of industrial chemical accidents is increasing — and the Trump admin wants to weaken accident prevention requirements and eliminate the Chemical Safety & Hazard Investigation Board, the only federal agency charged with investigating the cause of these accidents. https://ow.ly/hRt150ZibPv

Industrial Chemical Accidents Rise Amid Safety Rollbacks

Up More Than 50% Since 2021; Fatalities & Injuries Up 20% in Last Year

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The number of tourist overflights across San Francisco parks will remain unchanged and will not be subject to environmental evaluation, according to a decision in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of groups led by PEER. https://peer.org/court-declines-to-limit-sf-bay-area-park-overflights/

Court Declines to Limit SF Bay Area Park Overflights

2,700 Flights Across Golden Gate, Pt. Reyes, SF Maritime & Muir Woods

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PEER's Executive Director testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution about Freedom 250, a partisan, private entity started by Trump to plan America's 250th. Millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on Freedom 250, without transparency. https://ow.ly/e47x50ZhhMt

Unraveling the Scandals Surrounding America’s Anniversary Celebration

PEER Executive Director Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee on Freedom 250

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Public employees who protect the environment need your support now more than ever. PEER has their back — providing free legal defense, exposing wrongdoing inside federal agencies, and fighting for environmental protections. Join the fight. Every dollar you give is matched. peer.org/doubletrouble

We're suing the Department of the Interior for refusing to release documents on how it's implementing an order to scrub "disparaging" American history content from national parks, monuments, and other public lands. https://ow.ly/qb4150ZcLmf

PEER Sues Interior Department for Hiding How it Decides What American History to Rewrite

Agency Stonewalls FOIA as it Strips History from Public Lands

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Today, PEER filed comments with the Office of Personnel Management urging the agency to withdraw its proposed government-wide nondisclosure agreement (NDA) for federal employees. https://ow.ly/Y4Vz50Zci7e #PublicEmployees #FederalEmployees

PEER Calls on OPM to Withdraw Proposed Government-Wide NDA, Warning It Is Illegal, Deceptive, and a Threat to Democracy

Comments Filed Today Expose a Sweeping Gag Order Built on Contradictions, Legal Violations, and an Effort to Silence Dissent in the Federal Workforce

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PEER Executive Director Tim Whitehouse breaks down the actions Congress must take to ensure our country remains a nation of laws that values the environment and respects a merit-based civil service. https://peer.org/government-chaos-demands-a-congressional-oversight-agenda/ #oversight

Government Chaos Demands a Congressional Oversight Agenda - PEER.org

With national elections just around the corner, PEER is stepping up its efforts to engage in congressional oversight activities.

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We're excited to welcome Michele Boyd to PEER's Board of Directors! Michele has more than 20 years of experience in energy and environmental issues across the government, non-profit, and for-profit sectors. https://ow.ly/ia3g50Zav4b

Department of Energy Veteran Joins PEER’s Board

Michele Boyd Brings 20+ Years of Energy and Environmental Expertise

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Trump’s scandal-plagued “Great American State Fair” and other USDA supported events celebrating America’s 250th anniversary may be inappropriately using government employees and resources for partisan events and evading ethics restrictions. https://ow.ly/uGPY50Z9pyN #Freedom250

PEER Urges Probe of Great American State Fair Fundraising

Questions Raised About USDA Funding of 250th Anniversary Events

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In a training video obtained by PEER, EPA staff scientists are counseled to short-circuit statutorily required scientific examinations of hazards posed to the environment and public health. https://ow.ly/xgGF50Z8RAB #ChemicalSafety #TSCA

Video Shows how Chemical Safety Reviews Weakened

EPA Staff Coached on Getting to “Yes” to Dismiss Unreasonable Health Risks

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Lead ammo used for hunting is poisoning wildlife and threatening the health of people who eat game meat. PEER has joined a coalition of animal welfare and public health groups petitioning the state of Colorado to ban it. https://ow.ly/HiZJ50Z7Jep #hunting

Animal Welfare and Public Health Groups File Petition in Colorado to Ban Lead Ammunition for Hunting - PEER.org

Lead poisons and kills dozens of wildlife species and is also an acute threat to hunting families and others eating wild game shot with the toxic, irreducible metal

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The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is losing staff at an unprecedented rate. All of this is happening as the agency faces growing responsibilities from expanded energy and mineral extraction, wildfire threats, and rising recreation. https://ow.ly/fWBQ50Z7aNZ #BLM #PublicEmployees #PublicLands

Bureau of Land Management Being Hollowed Out - PEER.org

40% Staffing Cut Since 2024; All but One State Director Post Vacant

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The FDA has rejected recommendations put forward by PEER and an FDA scientist to improve clinically safe outcomes from the use of CT imaging devices. Today, PEER filed a formal appeal of that rejection. https://ow.ly/mUU850Z6GX6

FDA Spurns CT Scan Reliability Safeguards

Current Lax Standards Put Patients at Risk and Pose Regulatory Violations

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EPA wants to use AI in pollution permitting, but has released a plan that doesn't explain how these tools will be used. PEER has submitted comments seeking clarity. https://ow.ly/g7uV50Z6hmV #EPA #AI

EPA Embrace of AI Yields More Questions Than Answers

“Evidence Plan” Is Hopelessly Vague and Subject to Political Manipulation

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The Trump administration just proposed government-wide non-disclosure agreements that could cover all 2 million federal employees.

Certified fire incident communicators work within federal agencies to keep the public informed about fires via television, radio, and the press. Unfortunately, Interior Secretary Burgum has pulled many of these specialists away from their agencies. https://ow.ly/Ubkq50Z2e7S #Wildfire

Interior Secretary Burgum is Playing with Fire

The Supreme Court has set the stage for a descent to authoritarian rule in a series of quick rulings that have favored President Trump.

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A year ago, the Interior Department pitched a sweeping reorganization as a way to save money and streamline operations. On The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton, PEER Executive Director Tim Whitehouse joins to look at what the evidence shows about how that reorg played out. https://ow.ly/9tUE50Z1jv1

Reorganization plans can look clean on paper and turn out far messier in real life | Federal News Network

They're moving things around on paper without recognizing the effects that may have in the communities throughout the country," said Tim Whitehouse.

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Endangered Species Day reminds us what’s at stake. But this year, the reminder arrives with added urgency: the systems designed to protect wildlife are being systematically dismantled. https://ow.ly/PL7Y50Z0bVX #EndangeredSpeciesDay

The Endangered Species Act and the Importance of Federal Action

National Endangered Species Day comes with added urgency this year, as the systems designed to protect wildlife are being dismantled.

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HUD has quietly waived flood protection standards for new housing built on floodplains and in coastal hazard areas. Under prior regulations, housing built in areas prone to flooding had to be elevated at least two feet above the “base flood elevation” for the area. https://ow.ly/ORY850YZyFG

HUD Issues Stealth Waiver of Flood Protection Standards

Supposed Affordability Savings Wiped Out by Higher Flood Insurance Costs

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