Lamar Smith, of Texas, who heads the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, has successfully commandeered a bill out of committee that is intended to replace half the EPA’s Science Advisory Board with industry insiders. This board, which currently has 18 academic research scientists, was established nearly 40 years and five presidents ago. Its purpose has always been to apply rigorous scientific research to addressing issues such as oil spill cleanups, leaking underground fuel tanks, and bark beetle infestations decimating Western forests. (The beetle infestation has been conclusively linked to the effects of climate change.) But now nine of these board members will be replaced by industry insiders, just to provide “fair and balanced” input when making recommendations for environmental actions.

In addition, the Department of the Interior has now been tasked with reviewing and possibly eliminating over 200 advisory boards and committees which weigh in on federal land management decisions—whether to open up more federal land to mining, drilling, logging and other extractive industries. Mining and drilling would be allowed in national parks and the goal is to remove all regulations that unnecessarily obstruct delivery of energy resources. Methane leaks would no longer be monitored and the intentional flaring of natural gas would be allowed to continue. The entire Atlantic Coast might be open to oil drilling. Anything related to climate change mitigation is likely to be eliminated.

As a final insult to injury brought to us by the Trump administration, the EPA has just deleted its climate science site for kids.

On Earth Day (April 22) this year, Mr. Trump said "Rigorous science is critical to my Administration’s efforts to achieve the twin goals of economic growth and environmental protection. My Administration is committed to advancing scientific research that leads to a better understanding of our environment and of environmental risks.”

Book burning may be next. Galileo, dead nearly a half a millenium, would spin in his grave.

Beverly Roxby lives in Belfast