Commentary

Executive Director

Tim is PEER’s Executive Director, with more than 30 years of experience working on environmental issues with governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community groups. Prior to joining PEER, he was a senior attorney at the United States Environmental Protection Agency and was head of the Law and Policy Program at the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation in Montreal, Canada. He has worked as a consultant for companies on environmental compliance issues, and with nonprofit organizations focusing on clean energy issues. Most recently, he was executive director of Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility, a health advocacy group working to address climate change, toxics pollution, and nuclear disarmament issues. Tim’s interest is in the intersection of science, policy, and civil service. He believes in protecting employees who raise concerns about their workplace and in exposing undue influence on government for private gain. He holds a JD and BA from Emory University and an MA from New York University.

Doug Burgum’s Destruction of the Department of the Interior

by Tim Whitehouse | August 18, 2026
Doug Burgum isn't simply shrinking the Department of the Interior, he is actively working to destroy it ...

The Old Spanish Trail Has Waited Long Enough for Protection

by Chandra Rosenthal | August 14, 2026
Our hope is that the court will reinforce that a National Trail designation carries meaningful responsibilities for the agencies entrusted with managing these lands ...

A Constitutional, Legal, and Moral Crisis

by Tim Whitehouse | August 13, 2026
We’re clearly in new and dangerous territory as a country. We must recognize the moment we’re in and realize we aren’t going back to the way things were, nor should we try to ...

PEER and Allies Push Back on FCC’s Approval of Reflect Orbital’s Plan to Light Up the Night

by Tim Whitehouse | August 10, 2026
With the space rush on, we must continue to act to make sure federal agencies consider all the risks and impacts of satellite proposals as part of the approval process ...

Executive Branch Employees Are Bound by an Ethics Code. Why Not the Judiciary?

by Ben Glick | August 6, 2026
It is imperative that we act to ensure the judiciary remains accountable to the public and uninfluenced by personal financial interests ...

The Administration’s New Grant Rule Isn’t About Science. It’s About Power.

by Christine Schulman | July 24, 2026
The OMB's proposed overhaul of how the federal government awards grants would dramatically expand political control over how taxpayer dollars are distributed ...