Government

The Art of Access — Strategies for Acquiring Environmental Records

As government resistance intensifies over sharing public records — especially environmental documents — journalists need to hone their skills to get the information they need to do their jobs and serve their audiences. FOIA expert David Cuillier offers tips and tactics to help you use your reporting time and dollars most effectively and ensure your public records requests produce high-quality results.

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"Trump Wants Mining. Federal Mine Safety Workers Are On The Chopping Block."

"Federal scientists and engineers working to prevent deadly disasters and the spread of disease in miners could soon lose their jobs, even as President Donald Trump moves to supercharge U.S. production of coal and critical minerals."

Source: E&E News, 09/08/2025

"Democratic Lawmakers Demand Interior DOGE Leader’s Financial, Ethics Docs"

"Documents obtained by Public Domain raise ethics questions about former oil executive Tyler Hassen's investments." "A day after two Democratic lawmakers sent a letter seeking Tyler Hassen's financial and ethics documents, Hassen was replaced as Interior's Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget."

Source: Public Domain, 09/08/2025

Energy Sector Has Spent Hundreds of Millions of Dollars on Lobbying This Year

"The energy and natural resource sector has spent hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying the federal government so far this year, according to data compiled by the nonprofit OpenSecrets."

Source: Inside Climate News, 09/08/2025

Calif. Begins $38M Pilot Project To Cool Hellishly Hot Cells In 3 Prisons

"As climate change exacerbates the risks of extreme heat across California, the state’s prison officials plan to embark on a $38 million pilot project to figure out how to keep their prison cells cool."

Source: CalMatters, 09/05/2025

Washington, D.C.: "The View From The Militarized Zone"

"Bobbi Stevenson Bauer loves her flowers. The Arlington, Virginia, resident often travels to downtown Washington, D.C., to visit the Enid A. Haupt Garden at the Smithsonian and the U.S. Botanic Garden, two of the many tourist destinations that are situated along the National Mall. ... “I haven’t seen it this empty since Covid,” she reported during a recent visit." 

Source: National Parks Traveler, 09/04/2025

FEMA Staffing Shortages Could Hinder Disaster Recovery Efforts, GAO Says

"The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s past recovery efforts have been impeded by staffing shortages, and officials are facing an ongoing hurricane season with even fewer employees, according to a Government Accountability Office report released on Tuesday."

Source: Government Executive, 09/04/2025

"EPA Fires Some Staffers Who Signed Letter Critical of Leadership"

"The EPA on Friday terminated at least five of the roughly 140 employees who signed a public letter in June critical of the agency’s political leadership, according to the staffers’ union. At least 10 other tenured employees have gotten a notice of proposed removal, said Nicole Cantello, an EPA lawyer and president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704."

Source: Bloomberg Environment, 09/03/2025

Weather Service Union Sues Trump Over Order Ending Collective Bargaining

"Unions representing employees of the National Weather Service and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office sued President Trump on Tuesday over an executive order that sought to end employee rights to collectively bargain with the government."

Source: The Hill, 09/03/2025

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