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Since assuming the mantle of the Presidency, Donald Trump and his administration have been waging war against the science division of the government. The Environmental Protection Agency has been one of the worst affected, which is why its employees turned to encrypted messaging apps in order to discuss the looming threat that the current administration poses. After this activity was exposed, the agency is now in the crosshairs of Republicans.
Politico was the first to break the news that agency employees were using the app called Signal in order to have a discussion about the agency’s future as it pertains to the new Trump presidency without fear of being spied on. In the piece, the publication noted the apprehension that the employees felt at the thought of Trump’s appointees crippling the agency’s ability to function.
Upon finding out that this was happening, two Republican lawmakers drafted a letter of complaint and sent it to the Office of the Inspector General at the EPA. The lawmakers in question are Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.). Smith is the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology chair and LaHood is Smith’s counterpart in the subcommittee on Oversight.
Together, the two Representatives in Congress possess incredible influence. In the letter, the pair objected to the notion that EPA officials could have a discussion about government matters without the there being any record of the conversation, Ars Technica reports.
“Not only does this demonstrate the vast issues presented with using text messages to conduct official business, but raises additional concerns about using messaging applications to conduct official business, which make it virtually impossible for the EPA to preserve and retain the records created in this manner to abide by federal record-keeping requirements,” the letter reads.
The EPA has until February 28th to respond to the letter sent by the lawmakers. As of right now, the agency is keeping quiet about the whole affair.
