Trump EPA stacks science panel with chemical industry insiders

(Washington, D.C. – July 2, 2026) Yesterday President Trump's EPA announced new appointments to its Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals, the expert panel that peer-reviews the agency's chemical risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

"EPA's independent science advisors play an essential role in ensuring the agency’s decision-making is grounded in science. Stacking the agency’s Toxic Substances Control Act Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals with representatives from the chemical industry is yet another way the Trump EPA is putting special interests over Americans’ health and safety. The Toxic Substances Control Act relies on this committee to help shape the science-backed protections that keep us safe from chemicals that cause chronic diseases, cancers and fertility issues. Many of these committee members have deeply conflicting interests and well-documented histories of being paid to downplay the risks of toxic chemicals, or are directly employed by companies with a financial stake in weakening chemical protections. 

“The appointment of Michael Dourson, who has spent his career at the helm of firms that have taken money from the tobacco industry and dozens of chemical companies to undermine public health protections, is the definition of a conflict of interest. During the first Trump administration, Dourson was forced to withdraw his nomination to head EPA’s toxics office in the face of mounting bipartisan opposition to his long history of working with the chemical industry to erode protections from the worst toxic chemicals, like PFAS, trichloroethylene and 1,4-dioxane.

“This is a blatant attack on the scientific independence and integrity that the Toxic Substances Control Act requires to protect public health from toxic chemicals.”

• Sarah Vogel, Senior Vice President, Healthy Communities