Oversight Committee Members Call on Chemical Safety Board Chairman to Resign
WASHINGTON— Today during the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on “Rebuilding the Chemical Safety Board: Finding a Solution to the CSB’s Governance and Management Challenges,” Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) joined with fellow Members in calling on CSB Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso to resign as part of the necessary reforms needed to improve morale and productivity within the Chemical Safety Board. The Chemical Safety Board was ranked the “worst place to work” within the federal government [source]. An independent analysis of the CSB found that the agency suffers from: lack of trust in senior leadership, poor communication, ineffective goal setting, lack of standard procedure, and lack of follow up by senior leadership. [more here]
“Between you, Managing Director Daniel Horowitz, and General Counsel Richard Loeb, this is a dysfunctional, unfair, and unproductive organization, and good people are suffering,” said Chairman Chaffetz.
Congressman Mark Meadows (NC-11) inquired whether or not the White House is aware of the Inspector General’s report on the CSB Chairman’s use of personal emails for official CSB business. Congressman Meadows also highlights inconsistencies between the report findings and testimony given by the CSB Chairman during a previous oversight hearing.
“Figuring out what clear decisions have been made is a moving target, and that’s been one of my challenges as a new board member and I’m finding it very difficult,” said Board Member Rich Engler in response to questions asked by Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At Large).
Congressman Mick Mulvaney (SC-05) raises concerns over CSB Chairman Moure-Eraso’s use of private emails to conduct official CSB business and raises concerns over General Counsel Richard Loeb’s interaction with Mr. Moure-Eraso’s during the hearing.
“Who told you that you could not use private emails, that it was problematic?” said Congressman Mulvaney.
An independent analysis of leadership issues within the Chemical Safety Board found the following:
