Justice Department lawyers acknowledge presidential transition in court filing
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Elizabeth Duan | January 4, 2021
“The Justice Department has acknowledged that a new administration will take office later this month in a recent court filing despite President Trump’s refusal to concede the election and the pressure on staff and officials to not acknowledge his defeat. Department lawyers argued ...
Park Service needs a new conservationist leader
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Jeff Ruch | November 16, 2020
“Today, four years into its second century, the National Park Service is stumbling forward into a new era, without a plan, a leader or, most importantly, a vision for how to both protect and enhance what is often called America’s best idea. The agency has just received one of the ...
Emails show Park Police reliance on pepper balls, outside police forces during Lafayette protests
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Elizabeth Duan | November 6, 2020
“U.S. Park Police email traffic during the June protests at Lafayette Square shows that agency officials were unaware which law enforcement agencies were assisting with the heavily criticized government response as demonstrators were overwhelmed by chemical irritants. The heavily ...
Op-Ed: Science protections must be enforceable
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Jeff Ruch | September 6, 2020
“Recognizing that things have gotten so out of hand, Congress must enact new, strong enforcement mechanisms to free us from the grip of “alternative facts.” Failure to do so will mean we did not learn the hard lesson of the Trump experience and we have left the door open for it ...
Pence’s use of Fort McHenry threatens Park Service employees
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Peter Jenkins | August 26, 2020
“Using the Park Service for a blatantly political speech, such as accepting a nomination for a political role, presents a major hazard of violating the Hatch Act, which forbids any federal employee other than the president or vice president from engaging in political activity at ...