[What an ominous development! Just imagine that his man took oath only a week ago.]
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/president-trump-institutes-media-blackouts-epa-usda-article-1.2954647 President Trump institutes media blackouts at EPA, USDA BY ADAM EDELMAN NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Updated: Tuesday, January 24, 2017, 4:56 PM [Video: Colorado Lawmakers Concerned After Trump Freezes EPA Grants CBS Denver] President Trump has instituted media blackouts at the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, further signaling that his nascent administration will not be playing by conventional rules when it comes to access to information. ***Trump has barred EPA employees from providing updates on social media or providing information to reporters, and he has barred the agency from awarding new contracts or grants.*** [Emphasis added.] Emails obtained by the Associated Press, sent by members of Trump's inner circle after his inauguration on Friday, explicitly instructed agency employees to stop issuing press releases and posting to the organization's blogs and social media accounts. The last posts on the EPA's main "@EPA" Twitter handle, and on its Spanish language "@EPAespanol" handle came on Jan. 19, the day before Trump's inauguration. Why Scott Pruitt is such a threat Staffers in the EPA public affairs office have also been instructed to forward all inquiries from reporters to the Office of Administration and Resources Management. In addition, the Trump administration ordered a "temporary suspension" of all new business activities at the department, including the issuance of task orders or work assignments to EPA contractors. ***The White House has also banned employees and scientists at the Department of Agriculture from publicly disclosing any information, according to another email obtained by the AP.*** [Emphasis added.] Trump has ordered a ban on EPA employees from providing updates on social media or to reporters, as well as a ban on awarding new contracts or grants. Trump has ordered a ban on EPA employees from providing updates on social media or to reporters, as well as a ban on awarding new contracts or grants. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/GETTY IMAGES) ***"This includes, but is not limited to, news releases, photos, fact sheets, news feeds and social media content," the email stated.*** [Emphasis added.] Trump taps Branstad as China ambassador, Kelly as DHS chief The last post to the official USDA "@USDA" Twitter handle came on Jan. 18. BuzzFeed reported Tuesday that personnel at the agency's Agricultural Research Service were told in an email Monday to stop disclosing any information to the public and to the media, but a spokesman for the ARS said that ban did not apply to scientific publications. The last original post on the ARS' "@USDA_ARS" handle came on Jan. 19, although the account has retweeted one posts since then. Representatives from the EPA and USDA did not immediately respond to emails requesting comment on the bans. Donald Trump remains ‘open minded’ on environmental issues White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said during his daily press briefing, however, that he wasn't aware of the new publicity guidlines. POOL IMAGE 77 PHOTOS VIEW GALLERY Donald Trump sworn in as 45th President of the United States "I don't know that story," he said. "When there's an administration turnover, I don't think there's any surprise that we review the policies," he added. Doug Ericksen, the communications director for Trump's transition team at EPA, confirmed the communications ban, but said he expected it be lifted by the end of the week. Trump EPA nominee accused of taking 'dark money' during hearing "We're just trying to get a handle on everything and make sure what goes out reflects the priorities of the new administration," Ericksen said. Government watchdogs, as well as Democratic lawmakers, expressed outrage over the guidance. "We adamantly oppose measures muzzling scientists or limiting disclosing government #opendata to the public," the Sunlight Foundation, an open government nonprofit, said on Twitter. JULY 1, 2013 FILE PHOTO Spokespersons for the EPA and USDA did not immediately respond to emails requesting comment on the bans. (MATT BROWN/AP) "This administration is launching direct attacks on truth and transparency in our gov't," tweeted Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). "Very troubling — and honestly, anti-democratic." EPA delayed warning Flint residents over water crisis for 7 month Other lawmakers and environmental groups ripped the specific EPA orders; some made it clear they would consider taking legal action. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said his office would “examine all legal options to ensure the EPA meets its obligations to keep our state’s air and water safe.” “I will not stand idly by while the new administration threatens to undercut crucial environmental regulations that protect New Yorkers,” he said in a statement. Ericksen said the freeze on EPA contracts and grants would not apply to pollution cleanup efforts or infrastructure construction activities. EPA freezes grants, CDC cancels climate change summit Sierra Club Climate Policy Director Liz Perera called the moves a "major red flag for all Americans at the start of a new administration." President Donald Trump speaks as Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) looks on during a luncheon at the Congress of Tomorrow Republican Member Retreat on Jan. 26, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Congressional Republicans are gathering for three days to plan out their 2017 legislative agenda. 23 PHOTOS VIEW GALLERY Donald Trump in the White House "Trump's action puts American lives and communities at risk — we're pretty sure that's not what making America 'great' means," she said. Tuesday's orders came just days after administration officials ordered all Department of Interior bureaus "to immediately cease use of government Twitter accounts," following retweets on the official Twitter account of the National Park Service that appeared to criticize Trump. A spokesman for the National Park Service, however, said the shutdown only came because the Friday retweets were "inconsistent with the agency's approach to engaging the public through social media. The agency's account resumed activity on Saturday. With News Wire Services -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
