State Department Scientist Prevented from Submitting Written Testimony to Congress

Rod Schoonover, a senior scientist at the U.S. Department of State, was reportedly prevented from submitting written testimony on the threats posed by climate change to the House Intelligence Committee. Mr. Schoonover’s testimony warned that “[a]bsent extensive mitigation factors or events, [there are] few plausible future scenarios where significant — possibly catastrophic — hard does not arise from the compounded effects of climate change.” That characterization was criticized by White House officials, including members of the National Security Council (NSC), who complained that Mr. Schoonover’s testimony was “not objective” and included “lots of climate alarm propaganda that is not science at all.” NSC senior director, William Happer, was particularly critical of the testimony, describing it as “propaganda . . . for the scientifically illiterate.”

According to media reports, following the NSC’s criticism, the White House Office of Legislative affairs directed Mr. Schoonover not to submit the testimony because it did not “jibe” with the administration’s position on climate change.