The Trump administration has frozen grants and contracts by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to ProPublica, and blocked employees from providing updates on this change via social media. This could have big effects on the agency's budget and severely undercut its efforts.
In an email obtained by ProPublica, one EPA contractor writes that: "The new EPA administration has asked that all contract and grant awards be temporarily suspended, effective immediately. Until we receive further clarification, this includes task orders and work assignments."
Also, employees have been banned from providing updates to reporters or on social media. The internal memo specifies that no press releases will go out to external audiences, there will be "no blog messages" and media requests will be carefully screened. (Interestingly, the Department of Energy, a fellow federal agency, recently released new guidelines that specifically protects contractors and ensures that they can state their personal opinions.)
Source: The Verge
takyon: Here are some related stories happening at the same time:
USDA scrambles to ease concerns after researchers were ordered to stop publishing news releases, other documents
USDA disavows gag-order emailed to scientific research unit
Commerce nominee Ross promises to protect "peer-reviewed research" at NOAA
CDC postpones climate conference ahead of Trump takeover
Badlands National Park goes rogue with climate-change tweets
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 25 2017, @05:13PM
When the president views the EPA as the enemy you know we have a problem. The ignorance and greed is strong with this administration. My only hope is that the people will finally "get it" after seeing the country trashed (literally) for four years.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 26 2017, @12:12AM
I'm seeing a beautiful wall built at no cost and perfect security for all.
Plenty of thoughts and prayers for mass gun shooting victims.
A new war following a bombing somewhere? Who's left that doesn't have nukes yet...
Wonderful, wonderful tax cuts.
"The best" healthcare when Democrats stop blocking it... hey stop holding him BACK guys.
Banned topics for research from top to bottom - income inequality? BAN. Chemicals? BAN. Effect of wall? BAN. Effect of policy XYZ? BAN.
It's almost a perfect storm of a Bond villain running the place. Give the people what they want.