Win for chemical industry as EPA shutters scientific research office

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to shut down its Office of Research and Development (ORD), a move welcomed by the chemical industry. The ORD was responsible for conducting scientific research and assessments that often informed the development of environmental regulations and policies. The chemical industry had expressed concerns that the ORD's work could lead to stricter rules and potential lawsuits based on its findings. By dismantling the ORD, the EPA has effectively removed a source of independent scientific analysis that could have challenged industry interests. Critics argue that this decision undermines the EPA's ability to make informed, evidence-based decisions and compromises the agency's role in protecting public health and the environment. They contend that the move prioritizes industry interests over the well-being of communities and the natural environment. The closure of the ORD is seen as a significant victory for the chemical industry, which now faces less scrutiny and potential regulatory pressure from the EPA's scientific research arm.