Health and Environment Agencies
The Health and Environment Agencies report draws on submissions from employees at the FDA, EPA, NIH, the HHS Office for Human Research Protections, SAMHSA, the USDA Forest Service, the Department of Energy, the VA, and HHS's Health Resources and Services Administration, among others. Participants included researchers, regional directors, field staff, program specialists, and supervisors. Tenures ranged from under two years to 37 years of federal service.
The themes span several distinct policy areas. On research and public health, participants described how the Paperwork Reduction Act adds months to study timelines and limits agencies' ability to collect their own program data, and raised questions about whether 50 years of IRB regulations have been systematically evaluated for effectiveness. On environmental programs, participants discussed how NEPA review requirements designed for infrastructure permitting are now being applied to federal grant programs in ways that create redundant processes. On behavioral health, participants identified specific statutory language in the SAMHSA block grant that limits how states can use federal funds. Participants also raised broader questions about the level of scientific and technical knowledge Congress brings to legislating in these areas.
About this Report
This report was produced using Talk to the City (T3C), an open-source tool designed for public consultations, civic dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving. T3C is built around auditability: every theme it identifies is grounded directly in participant quotes, and every claim can be traced back to the person who made it. The report lets you explore broad themes, referred back to the exact statements behind them.
An important note: The recommendations compiled here reflect the individual views and experiences of interview participants. They are not endorsed by POPVOX Foundation, the Partnership for Public Service, the Niskanen Center, the Foundation for American Innovation, Civil Service Strong, or any other organization involved in the Departure Dialogues project.
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