Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Salud Carbajal joined an effort led by Reps. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Kathy Castor (FL-14) to urge the U.S. Department of Commerce to reconsider and withdraw the appointment of climate denier David Legates to a leadership role at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Legates has repeatedly rejected the scientific consensus that increasing carbon emissions is causing climate change, devoted his career to discrediting the work of climate researchers, and benefited from generous funding from the fossil fuel industry. As the new Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for environmental observation and prediction—a role that reports directly to the Acting NOAA Administrator—Legates is poised to seriously damage NOAA’s scientific independence, integrity, and effectiveness.

“Climate change is real, and inaction will only cost us more money, homes, and lives,” said Rep. Carbajal. “Appointing a climate denier to a leadership post at NOAA is just the latest anti-environment move from the Trump administration, but the long-term consequences of undermining NOAA’s mission are dire. We need leaders who not only believe in climate change, but are willing to give the crisis the urgency and attention it deserves. The future of our planet is on the line.”

The Members wrote: “…This kind of science denial threatens the work of NOAA, which has recognized the immense challenges climate change poses for our fishing industries and coastal communities. Climate deniers appointed to lead the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior have already sidelined climate scientists, removed entire websites, altered climate communications, and prevented scientists from speaking out publicly. More than a hundred scientists at NOAA have reported censorship of the phrase ‘climate change’ in their work. We cannot allow Legates to discredit the dedicated researchers at NOAA in their essential work.”

Congressman Carbajal fought to prevent the politicization of climate science within our federal agencies, and previously introduced legislation to prevent the Trump administration from censoring climate science at the Environmental Protection Agency. He has also introduced legislation that directly addresses the effects of climate change in our community. Two of Congressman Carbajal’s bills, the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act and the Clean Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act, were included in the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis’ Climate Crisis Action Plan.

"Over the past month, climate-fueled storms like Hurricanes Laura, Sally, and now Beta have flooded communities and devastated families across our Gulf Coast, slamming businesses and decimating infrastructure. Science tells us that warmer ocean temperatures are leading to more intense hurricanes - and our nation needs leaders who understand science, respect experts, and are willing to act on climate to reduce the harms and risks in our communities," said Chair Kathy Castor (FL-14) of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. "David Legates does not meet that standard. His appointment to a leadership role at the NOAA would be a stain on the agency's scientific legacy, and a continuation of Trump's abject failure at protecting public health, the environment, and vulnerable communities."

Legates’ appointment does not require Senate confirmation and comes as NOAA is preparing for the 5th National Climate Assessment, a congressionally-mandated report to the president and Congress on the effects and sources of climate change. Climate scientists have expressed concern that Legates would be positioned to influence the direction of the National Climate Assessment and undermine NOAA’s scientific integrity.

The letter is supported by Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, American Geophysical Union, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Katharine Jacobs (Director of the Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions, and Director of the National Climate Assessment in the Obama Administration). A copy of the letter is available here.

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