This week, the Trump administration placed a media blackout on the Environmental Protection Agency, and a temporary ban on giving new contracts and work assignments to EPA contractors, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press.

The media blackout applies to the EPA’s social media accounts, as well as to press releases.

And in an interview with NPR, the head of communications for the new administration’s EPA transition team said that scientists working at the agency could be required to submit their findings and studies for a review before they can publish them.

Critics say these restrictions imposed by the Trump administration are unprecedented, but proponents argue that similar prohibitions were installed by previous administrations, most recently under President Obama.

Guests:

Bob Deans, director of Strategic Engagement at The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Oren Cass, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute specializing in energy, the environment and antipoverty policy