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Interior Dept. Must Approve USGS Research Presentations Ahead of Conferences

Geological Survey scientists must submit the titles of their presentations to get approval to attend two conferences.

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey are required to submit the titles of their presentations for two major conferences to the Interior Department for review, according to internal guidelines obtained by The Washington Post. The titles are required to show how the research moves research goals that have been outlined by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. A spokeswoman for the Interior Department told the Post that the department “can only afford to send people who have a meaningful role at the conference ... If taxpayer dollars are being spent to send someone to a conference, we'd like some degree of confidence that their attendance will advance the department's priorities.” Previous administrations have not had similar approval processes.