At least two federal judges appeared skeptical Wednesday of the EPA’s argument that federal ethics rules don’t apply to the agency’s decisions about who serves on its powerful advisory boards.
During oral arguments in Washington, public health groups and scientists took aim at the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2017 directive that bars anyone receiving EPA grant money from serving as advisers.
Earthjustice attorney Neil Gormley argued that the policy conflicts with federal ethics regulations that say those types of financial interests don’t qualify as conflicts of interest, and he said the EPA never properly explained its decision.
Judges David S. ...