Two scientists who sought permission to speak with U.S. Right to Know were silenced last month by officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Jeff Ruch, Pacific director of the nonprofit group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said that the First Amendment rights of government scientists are under attack. Ruch pointed out that policies to silence the speech of scientists are spreading to other agencies that oversee critical public health functions, including the Centers for Disease Control.
New rules for several federal agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health and Human Services, are as restrictive as those that have been imposed on USDA scientists.