Nearly all of the Obama administration's science staff has left the White House since January, but some haven't gone far as the Trump administration has moved slowly to replace them. An unofficial shadow office stocked with Obama loyalists is quietly at work, advocating for their previous boss's agenda on climate change and other issues. “It is certainly true that MANY of the former OSTP staffers are working, in a variety of ways, to fill the void,” said John Holdren (above left), who led Obama's Office of Science and Technology Policy. “Me, too.”
From Stat:
Read Full Article »In interviews, members of the new Obama group — which numbers in the dozens — said they have remained more engaged than they expected to before Trump's victory in November. Beyond fielding policy questions from congressional offices, they have consulted with scientific societies, and advised organizers of the March for Science, among other activists — a few have even made those organizations their new professional homes.
They have also assisted in analyzing the impact of White House budget proposals — which have outlined deep cuts to federal research agencies — and the impact of policies including Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accords.
