Contact us

Reporting from: https://exhibits.library.cornell.edu/cultivating-silence/feature/the-united-states

The United States

January 20-22 2017 the United States Environmental Protection Agency removed almost all reference to climate change on their public-facing websites, apparently on a directive from the White House. Many program descriptions changed – such as a “Climate and Energy Program” becoming an “Energy Program” – and the majority of the EPA’s climate data sets became significantly more difficult to access. Removing science from the public discourse, even if the researchers themselves are not directly threatened, effectively suppresses the results of scientific work. The images below show the changes made to just one page of many.

With both rigorous scientific work and sound policy making stymied by politically inspired obfuscation and suppression, precious time has been, and in some cases continues to be lost for finding effective answers to the rapidly advancing problem of global warming.

Comparison of EPA website, Federal Collaborations Addressing Climate Change and Water
A comparison of EPA website text. On the left is 1/16/2017, on the right is 1/26/2017.
Comparison of EPA pages regarding energy and climate
Comparing EPA website pages on energy and climate; before on the left, after on the right. Note the title changes and difference in layouts.