Reuters reports:
The news that a cabinet member in the Trump administration had threatened to fire politically-appointed staff at the agency in order to force the NOAA to contradict the advice of its own scientists prompted immediate condemnation.
The head of the environmental group the Sierra Club, Michael Brune, called on Ross to resign to “maintain the dignity of the federal government.” Brune called the intervention a “shameless abuse of power” that could have “devastating results now and in the future.”
Democratic congress members Don Beyer from Virginia and Paul Tonko from New York also called on Ross to step down. And late on Monday, the New York Times amended its story to report that the commerce department’s own Office of Inspector General has launched an inquiry into that official statement and whether it breached departmental rules
Rep. Don Beyer says Wilbur Ross should resign over his threats to NOAA officials pic.twitter.com/b3DnIQXlxx
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) September 9, 2019
Rep. Jim Himes on NYT story on Sec. Wilbur Ross: "If that story is true, the Commerce Secretary needs to resign now." pic.twitter.com/BUPyqYyqXP
— The Hill (@thehill) September 9, 2019
Sierra Club statement: Wilbur Ross' attempts to cover for Trump were undeniably dangerous. He must resign. https://t.co/ETVoznTvBJ
— Sierra Club (@SierraClub) September 9, 2019