FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing on Alleged Misconduct at the Department of Energy

Original title: EXAMINING MISCONDUCT AND INTIMIDATION OF SCIENTISTS BY SENIOR DOE OFFICIALS

January 1, 2017

scientific integrity Department of Energy workplace conduct congressional oversight radiation biology

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing represents a formal congressional inquiry into the management practices and scientific integrity standards within the Department of Energy, which impacts how federal research is conducted and how government scientists are treated.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Department of Energy scientists

These individuals are the subject of the inquiry regarding workplace conduct and professional treatment.

Department of Energy senior officials

These officials are the subject of allegations regarding their management and conduct toward staff.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is the transcript of a 2016 joint congressional hearing held by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The hearing investigated allegations of misconduct and intimidation of scientists by senior officials within the U.S. Department of Energy.

Key Facts

The hearing was held on September 21, 2016, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
The hearing was a joint session of the Subcommittee on Oversight and the Subcommittee on Energy.
The primary subject was the investigation of alleged misconduct and intimidation of scientists by senior Department of Energy officials.
Dr. Sharlene Weatherwax and Dr. Noelle Metting were listed as witnesses for the hearing.
The hearing record includes opening statements from Representatives Barry Loudermilk, Don Beyer, and Randy K. Weber.
The record includes various supplemental documents and reports submitted by committee members for the official record.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?

The hearing was convened to examine allegations of misconduct and the intimidation of scientists by senior officials at the Department of Energy.

Who testified at this hearing?

The witnesses listed were Dr. Sharlene Weatherwax, Associate Director of Biological and Environmental Research, and Dr. Noelle Metting, a Radiation Biologist, both from the Department of Energy.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift80% confidence

Congressional Oversight of Scientific Integrity

The hearing highlights a specific period where the House Science Committee focused heavily on internal management and scientific integrity within the Department of Energy.

Department of Energy House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

Connected Entities

personBarry Loudermilk“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight”Map →

organizationHouse Committee on Science, Space, and Technology“The committee conducting the hearing”Map →

personSharlene Weatherwax“Associate Director, Biological and Environmental Research, U.S. Department of En”Map →

organizationDepartment of Energy“The federal agency under investigation”Map →

personNoelle Metting“Radiation Biologist, U.S. Department of Energy”Map →

personRandy K. Weber“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy75
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment40
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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