Thread by @reveal

1/ We've reported quite a bit on the Trump administration's dismantling of science. Here's what it looks like in practice.

In Feb, we showed that David Bernhardt, Trump's pick to lead @Interior, played a key role in gutting migratory birds protections. revealnews.org/article/trumps…

2/ Now, internal government emails obtained by @ShogrenE provide evidence of federal wildlife agents opting out of investigations and enforcement, citing this policy change as the reason. revealnews.org/article/killin…

3/ For example, after a pipeline burst in Idaho last April, spilling diesel into a pond and wetland, two coolers full of dead birds were dropped off at the Fish and Wildlife office in Boise.

4/ In an email about what to do with the dead birds, a Fish and Wildlife agent wrote that “we are no longer involved’’ when birds are killed in oil spills. documentcloud.org/documents/5781…

5/ Agents had a similar reaction when a tugboat spilled oil into Great Harbor in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, killing dozens of birds.

6/ “As this spill involves the incidental take of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, there is currently no enforcement action planned.”

Here's that email, from a Fish and Wildlife agent: documentcloud.org/documents/5781…

7/ Another email about a timber harvest in Michigan said Fish and Wildlife no longer prohibits loggers from cutting down trees with nests in them, even if it destroys live eggs or chicks: documentcloud.org/documents/5782…

8/ And yet another email, from October 2018, shows that Fish and Wildlife saved $2.5 million by not filling 10 positions primarily related to investigating violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. documentcloud.org/documents/5781…

9/ @ShogrenE has been investigating these issues since Trump took office.

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