Commentary

Of Counsel

Jeff serves as Of 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.

BLOG | EPA’s Bad Chemistry Is Killing Us 

by | February 25, 2021
We cannot afford to wait for EPA to finally become a 21st century regulator of harmful chemicals that find our way into food, water, and air ...

BLOG | Renewable Energy and Public Lands

by | February 23, 2021
Tensions may emerge between the dual goals of protecting natural areas and reducing GHG emissions, particularly when it comes to public lands ...

BLOG | The Risks of Paying for Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Sequestration

by | February 17, 2021
As climate programs are revived under the new Administration, the role of greenhouse gas reduction offsets ​in agriculture are under fresh scrutiny ...

BLOG | Research Suppression at USDA and Stagnation of Agricultural Science

by | February 11, 2021
Jonathan Lundgren was a top-rated USDA research scientist until he started revealing the environmental harms of the neonicotinoid insecticides and other favorite products of the pesticide industry ...

BLOG | Vilsack Pick Fails Scientific Integrity Test

by | February 3, 2021
Biden’s nominee for USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack, had a dubious record on scientific integrity and ties to agri-business during his previous stint at USDA ...

BLOG | Social Distancing to Curb COVID-19 and Park Overcrowding

by | February 1, 2021
Biden Executive Order on COVID-19 protocols on federal property puts the National Park Service under a direct presidential order to do something it's resisted for years - manage overcrowding ...
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