Julie MacDonald’s resignation, while a necessary first step, must not be the end of the story.  Instead, it should be taken as a jumping-off point, an opportunity for the Interior Department and this administration to address the real problem, which is the manipulation of science in decisions about endangered wildlife and plants.

This is not a story about one bad apple but rather an example of a deeper cultural problem within Interior, perhaps throughout the Bush administration.  The Seattle Post Intelligencer just reported on Friday on another example, where a “Washington Oversight Committee” was formed to change the direction of recovery planning for the northern spotted owl.  For another perspective on how widespread and pervasive the problem of political manipulation of science is under this administration (something the Seattle Post Intelligencer editorial staff chalked up to the Bush administration's "lapdog eagerness to ignore science and serve corporate interests"), see also the recent Union of Concerned Scientists survey of Fish and Wildlife Service employees, in which nearly half of respondents who worked on endangered species decisions said they had experienced political interference in their work.  Julie MacDonald was a symptom of a larger problem, one that will not be solved by her departure alone.

The solution is to buffer the agency scientists and scientific decision making from interference by political appointees.  Specifically, this could be done by adopting a guarantee to the right of final review for agency scientists, so they at least have the opportunity to see documents they worked on before they are made public and can attest that their expert opinions have been faithfully portrayed.  In addition and as a form of protection of last resort for agency scientists, Congress should pass the whistleblower legislation before them now (it has passed the House and is now in the Senate) that specifically protects scientific speech (there is more information on this legislation on the Union of Concerned Scientists website).  Finally, and at the very least, Secretary Kempthorne needs to make a strong statement that manipulation of scientific conclusions is unacceptable in the Interior Department.

Also, we just learned that a Congressional hearing on science in endangered species decisions has been scheduled for May 9^th at 10am.  Lynn Scarlett of the Department of the Interior will be testifying, as well as representatives from Union of Concerned Scientists and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.  We believe the hearing will be webcast, and we will provide more information as we get it.

For background on the investigation of Julie MacDonald and her role in preempting protections for the white-tailed prairie dog, Gunnison sage grouse, and other imperiled wildlife, take a look at our earlier press release and our information on the white-tailed prairie dog and Gunnison sage grouse in the "Species" section of our website.