Judge strikes down officials' attempt at forming secretive group to repeal crucial US policy: 'The public deserves transparent … decisions'

Kim LaCapria
Wed, February 11, 2026, 8:05 PM CST

On Jan. 30, Massachusetts District Court Judge William Young ruled on a lawsuit filed in August by the Environmental Defense Fund and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

In the suit, the EDF and UCS alleged that the plaintiffs — Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin — violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act by forming the group surreptitiously.

On Aug. 15, the EDF issued a press release outlining its request that the court "swiftly block the use of an inaccurate 'science' report, developed in violation of federal law."
***
After dismissing over 400 government scientists who had been working on the sixth National Climate Assessment, Wright and Zeldin reportedly appointed five scientists to produce a report entitled "A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate."

Their work, published in July, broke "from broad scientific consensus" to intentionally downplay the severity of climate change.
***
more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/judge-strikes-down-officials-attempt-020500810.html

their squirming alone is heating the earth an extra 5*