The position of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator is of enormous importance in any administration. NOAA is responsible for the protection of threatened and endangered marine species such as whales, seals, sea lions, and sea turtles.
Previous presidents have filled that job with meteorologists, Naval admirals, oceanographers, environmental scientists, geologists, and even a highly-trained NASA astronaut1. It is critically-important that the role be filled with someone with a demonstrated respect and understanding of scientific methods that will approach the job with the goal of preserving and protecting our oceans and the life that relies upon them.
That is why it is so alarming that the Trump Administration has again nominated Barry Myers–a non-scientist with questionable ethics and a history of attacking NOAA–to head that agency.
In addition to being highly and uniquely unqualified for the position, Mr. Myers brings with him a troubling conflict of interest and concerns about his capacity to create a safe working environment. As a former CEO of the company AccuWeather, Mr. Meyers repeatedly called for the privatization of the National Weather Service, and worked for years to undercut the role of NOAA2.
On top of that, the company he formerly led has a history of sexual harassment and assault allegations during his tenure. AccuWeather agreed to pay $290,000 as part of a settlement3 after the Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs found that female employees were subject to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.
Sign the petition to tell the Senate to vote NO on this unqualified and unethical nominee.
Endangered and threatened species cannot afford to have the Senate gamble on an unqualified businessman with a history of attempting to weaken the agency he is nominated to lead. Our oceans are warming and facing unprecedented threats from acidification, pollution, and overfishing. The future of our nation’s coastal and marine species and our nation's ability to accurately predict changes in climate could rest on decisions made by the leadership of NOAA. Please join us in asking the Senate to reject this grotesquely unqualified and conflicted nomination for the position of NOAA Administrator.
