Those are political appointees, not civil servants. The former serve at the pleasure of the President. The latter are professionals. Granted, part of the implicit bargain for the latter's relative untouchability is their apoliticality.
> Granted, part of the implicit bargain for the latter's relative untouchability is their apoliticality.
Apoliticality and silence are two different things.
See: the longstanding bargain struck at the EPA that "scientists can do science" but "only administrators make policy decisions"
Which, seen in best light, means that policy decisions sometimes need to be made against scientific advice, due to other priorities. In worst light (and more true), so that administrators can push whatever agenda they want regardless of scientific consensus.
Our government's relationship with actual facts has always been at the whim of politics. Trump's just making it worse instead of better.
