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WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and House Natural Resources Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02), joined by 30 other Democratic House members, sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum condemning the Trump administration’s decision to disband the Federal Advisory Committee for Science Quality and Integrity (FACSQI) and slash over 240 positions at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 

The lawmakers are demanding answers and calling for swift action to protect the integrity, independence, and capacity of USGS science.

“USGS data and research have served as a cornerstone of national preparedness and environmental stewardship,” Tonko and his colleagues write. “The elimination of FACSQI and the loss of over 240 positions puts that legacy at serious risk.” 

The advisory committee was specifically established to strengthen oversight, prevent political interference, and safeguard scientific integrity at USGS. Its abrupt termination strips away essential safeguards, leaving the agency more vulnerable to compromised research standards. 

“This decision is part of a broader, troubling pattern at the Department of the Interior, which has also dismantled advisory panels on climate adaptation, conservation, and even the review of racially insensitive place names. Interior officials claim these cuts ‘streamline operations’ and ‘reduce redundancies,’ but in reality, they weaken the government’s scientific capacity, erode public trust, and leave communities more vulnerable to environmental and natural hazards.” 

The letter also warns that the loss of 240 USGS positions will further diminish the agency’s ability to: 

• Provide real-time earthquake and hazard monitoring. 

• Conduct essential groundwater and water quality assessments. 

• Maintain geologic mapping crucial for disaster preparedness. 

• Ensure sustainable management of mineral and energy resources critical to national security. 

• Support public lands conservation and outdoor recreation. 

• Build the strong domestic STEM workforce necessary for American innovation and competitiveness. 

Former FACSQI members and scientific experts are also voicing strong opposition to the Trump administration’s efforts to disband the FACSQI: 

“The Trump administration's decision to disband a USGS committee dedicated to strengthening scientific quality and integrity is a serious misstep that undermines our commitment to excellence in research. Scientific quality and integrity processes ensure that sound science informs critical decisions that impact the health and safety of the public and our environment” said Dr. Jacob Carter, former federal scientist and former member of USGS’s advisory committee. “Without the work of this committee, I fear that scientific integrity violations and cases of scientific misconduct will increase at the USGS, putting people's health and safety at risk. As a former federal scientist and member of USGS's advisory committee on science quality and integrity, I am grateful for the work of Representatives Tonko and Huffman in advocating for strong science and scientific integrity across our government.”  

Dr. Stephanie L. Shepherd, Associate Chair of the Department of Geosciences at Auburn University, said: “The members of the FACQSI were from academia, industry, non-government organizations, and government. We represent the many stakeholders who utilized and benefit from the critical scientific data produced by USGS programs. We were also enthusiastic about the opportunity to share our knowledge and experiences in support of the USGS mission. The USGS should be commended for proactively working to enhance scientific quality and integrity. Eliminating this committee along with the drastic reduction in USGS staff will have the opposite effect.”   

“The U.S. Department of the Interior’s decision to eliminate this committee is short-sighted, dangerous and shows yet again that the Trump administration has no regard for the safety of people living in the United States,” said Dr. Jennifer Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. “The Federal Advisory Committee for Science Quality and Integrity at the U.S. Geological Survey was created to prevent political interference in the scientific process and ensure the reliability of data used for earthquake and hazard monitoring, groundwater and water quality assessments, sustainable management of mineral and energy resources, and protection of public lands for conservation and recreation. Independent science is critical for public and environmental health. Scientific Integrity ensures that the best available science can inform policy and creates systems of accountability to ensure that science works for the people. Without the oversight provided by the committee, there is a greater chance that public science will be manipulated and distorted. Maintaining integrity within the U.S. Geological Survey is crucial to ensuring the accuracy of data people in the U.S. depend on for safety, environmental protection and disaster preparedness. The American people deserve transparent, independent science.” 

The full letter can be read HERE and below: 


March 26, 2025

The Honorable Doug Burgum  

Secretary of Interior 

U.S. Department of Interior 

1849 C Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20240 

Dear Secretary Burgum: 

We write to express deep concern over the abrupt elimination of the Federal Advisory Committee for Science Quality and Integrity (FACSQI) and broader workforce reductions at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).  These decisions undermine the agency’s ability to uphold scientific integrity, provide reliable data, and fulfill its critical mission to protect public safety, natural resources, and environmental health. 

The Advisory Committee for Science Quality and Integrity was established to provide independent guidance to the USGS Director on scientific integrity, research oversight, and data reliability. It was poised to play a vital role in: 

• Scientific Integrity – Enhancing policies to uphold ethical research practices, safeguard against misconduct and prevent political interference.  

• Laboratory Oversight – Strengthening quality control measures to maintain rigorous scientific standards.  

• STEM & Workforce Development – Cultivating the next generation of scientists through education and mentorship.  

• Tribal Partnerships & Research Advancement – Expanding collaboration with Indigenous communities and other key research partners. 

The committee was created, in part, to address systemic failures identified by the Inspector General in a 2024 report, including serious lapses in laboratory oversight and scientific integrity. A notable example of this occurred at the National Water Quality Laboratory in Colorado, where quality control values were falsified. This incident was driven by pressures on analysts, compounded by heavy workloads and a lack of adequate oversight and support. FACSQI was designed to provide the necessary external oversight to prevent such failures and protect our drinking water testing—yet its elimination removes these essential safeguards, increasing risks to public health and safety.  

This decision is part of a broader, troubling pattern at the Department of the Interior, which has also dismantled advisory panels on climate adaptation, conservation, and even the review of racially insensitive place names. Interior officials claim these cuts “streamline operations” and “reduce redundancies,” but in reality, they weaken the government’s scientific capacity, erode public trust, and leave communities more vulnerable to environmental and natural hazards. 

The damage extends beyond FACQSI’s elimination. The loss of 240 USGS positions further weakens the agency’s ability to effectively: 

• Provide real-time earthquake and hazard monitoring. 

• Conduct essential groundwater and water quality assessments. 

• Maintain geologic mapping crucial for disaster preparedness. 

• Ensure sustainable management of mineral and energy resources critical to national security. 

• Support public lands conservation and outdoor recreation. 

• Build the strong domestic STEM workforce necessary for American innovation and competitiveness.

Given these concerns, we request responses to the following questions by April 8th, 2025:

     1. How will USGS ensure scientific integrity without the advisory committee? 

     2. What steps is USGS taking to address challenges identified in the 2024 Inspector General report? 

     3. How will USGS maintain its ability to monitor natural hazards, water resources, and environmental changes given current staffing reductions? 

     4. What alternative mechanisms will be implemented to ensure independent scientific review and accountability? 

     5. How will USGS continue to support STEM workforce development and youth engagement? 

     6. How will USGS, as the primary source of information on domestic critical minerals supply chains, maintain up-to-date information on American geological resources? 

     7. What steps is USGS taking to ensure continued public access to its data, widely used for safety, outdoor recreation, resource management, and scientific advancements? 

     8. What steps is USGS taking to ensure continued protection of sensitive data, including proprietary information from industry surveys and sovereign tribal data on special and sacred sites? 

USGS data and research have served as a cornerstone of national preparedness and environmental stewardship. The elimination of FACSQI and the loss of over 240 positions puts that legacy at serious risk. We expect a full explanation for these decisions and a clear plan for preserving the integrity, independence and capacity of USGS science moving forward. The American public, policymakers, and the scientific community deserve nothing less. 

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