Former EPA Official Urges 40 Percent Budget Hike To Recruit Scientists

March 17, 2021
Betsy Southerland, a former long-term career EPA scientist, is urging Congress to set a four-year goal of increasing the agency’s budget by 40 percent, to $11.4 billion, in order to fund the hiring of at least 1,000 new and diverse scientists that could halt a “brain drain” of experts who are departing EPA and therefore stymying its work. Southerland, who held top roles in the agency’s water and Superfund offices, said in March 17 testimony to the House science committee’s...


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