Commentary

Senior Counsel

Jeff serves as Senior Counsel to PEER, where he specializes in civil service, scientific integrity, and whistleblower protection issues. Jeff was PEER’s Executive Director from 1997 to 2019 and its Pacific Director from 2019 to 2025. Previously, he was the Policy Director and a staff attorney at the Government Accountability Project, representing whistleblowers from both the public and private sectors. Before coming to DC, Jeff worked in California state government for 17 years, mostly in the State Legislature as counsel to various committees where he drafted hundreds of laws on topics ranging from energy conservation to the rights of employed inventors. Jeff served stints as a deputy district attorney and an appellate court clerk. He is a graduate of the California Correctional Officers Academy.

COMMENTARY | It’s Time to Ban Most PFAS Uses

by Monica Mercola | April 14, 2021
Congress needs to step up and ban all but essential uses of PFAS and hold polluters accountable. Every delay in regulation increases exposure ...

COMMENTARY | Cottontail, Dead at 12

by Tim Whitehouse | April 6, 2021
A 12 year old male North Atlantic right whale, one of around 350 left in the world, is presumed dead after becoming entangled in fishing gear ...

COMMENTARY | Biden Administration Choices will Determine the Future of the Federal Workforce

by Guest Contributor | March 30, 2021
Guest Contributor: John Martin - Department of Interior leadership and missions have been severely compromised and highly polarized over the past four years ...

BLOG | Mining: An Eco-Price for Fighting Climate Change

by Guest Contributor | March 24, 2021
Hardrock mining for minerals like lithium is no more sustainable than fracking for natural gas. Inflicting more damage is not the answer to climate change ...

Let’s Resist the Temptation to “Improve” Wilderness

by Guest Contributor | March 19, 2021
In designated wilderness areas, management means protecting the resource and natural processes, sometimes this means less access instead of more ...

BLOG | Supreme Court FOIA Decision and Official Candor

by Jeff Ruch | March 16, 2021
The recent Supreme Court decision makes government less transparent by shielding scientific conclusions from disclosure unless they are finally adopted by agency decision-makers ...
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