Science Policy Recap: February 9, 2017

Meanwhile, STAT reported, a coalition of public interest groups is suing the Trump administration to block another executive order—one telling federal agencies to repeal two regulations for every new one issued. “The Executive Order exceeds President Trump’s constitutional authority, violates his duty under the Take Care Clause of the Constitution, and directs federal agencies to engage in unlawful actions that will harm countless Americans,” according to the lawsuit.

At least two bills—neither likely to pass—targeting the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were recently introduced in Congress. One proposed its abolishment, while the other is dubbed the “Stopping EPA Overreach Act of 2017.” The sponsors of the latter proposal claim that the EPA has “exceeded its statutory authority by promulgating regulations that were not contemplated by Congress” and maintain that the “no Federal agency has the authority to regulate greenhouse gases under current law.”

While there are several barriers to the president’s proposal to build a wall along the southern border of the United States, geological concerns have come to the fore. “Though most wall designs are fairly simple, builders must adapt to a wide range of terrains,” Smithsonian reported. “The southern US border alone contains desert, wetlands, grasslands, rivers, mountains and forests—all of which create vastly different problems for builders.”

Finally, in the most-contentious Trump cabinet confirmation to date, Betsy DeVos was confirmed as Education Secretary in a 51-to-50 vote on February 7. Some science educators are not pleased. “I’ve never really been political until now and hearing how unqualified she is has really sparked my action,” “John D,” who teaches biology in Indiana, told Gizmodo.