Two scientists working for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) were found to have manipulated data from 1996 to 2014. This appears to be intentional and top officials at the USGS were likely involved. One scientist was found to have manipulated the data from 1996 to 2008 and when he retired a second scientist picked up where he left off and continued the manipulation until he was caught in 2014. The second scientist was given an award and 2 years in severance pay after they were caught.
A chemist was caught manipulating data at a USGS lab from 1996 to 2008. A second chemist – who received the award – continued the manipulation from 2008 to 2014. The lab was shut down in March 2016 following several investigations.
“Disciplinary actions were being pursued,” USGS spokeswoman A.B. Wade told The Daily Caller News Foundation after a House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing on the matter. “Neither are now employed by the federal government.”
Wade refused to say what those pursued actions were or if they were ever imposed.
The second unnamed chemist was awarded a 30-year retirement pin, but it’s unclear if the worker actually retired or retained his full benefits and pension, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Louie Gohmert told TheDCNF. The first chemist was “replaced” at the lab, but USGS wouldn’t give the committee any additional information.
USGS Deputy Director William Werkheiser repeatedly refused to disclose what disciplinary action was taken, despite intense questioning from Rep. Jody Hice. The Georgia Republican was especially concerned that the second analyst was paid for two years after a stop-work order was issued as a result of the manipulation.
“We – taxpayers – were paying for a guy who manipulated data to justify why he manipulated data. Is that what you’re telling me?” Hice asked Werkheiser. “That sounds to me like it could be done through interrogation rather than giving him two years on the payroll. It sounds to me like a brief slap on the wrist and he continues on the payroll until he’s ready to retire, after he receives an award.”