Ranking Member Lofgren Questions Purge of High-Ranking Civil Servants at NOAA
(Washington, D.C.) – This week, it was reported that two high-ranking career individuals were placed on administrative leave at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These personnel actions come ahead of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee’s scheduled vote on Neil Jacob’s confirmation as NOAA Administrator next week. The civil servants placed on leave include Dr. Stephen Volz, Assistant Administrator for NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS); and Jeff Dillen, Deputy General Counsel for NOAA’s Office of General Counsel.
“This raises suspicions," said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). "Is this a potential canary in the coal mine? Whether this is years-in-the-making retaliation, as reported, or smoothing the way for a politicized NOAA to make decisions without experts disagreeing, it reeks of impropriety. As the Committee responsible for oversight of NOAA, we have questions that need answers on what led to these personnel decisions.”
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