Scott Pruitt, nominee to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was questioned by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee during a confirmation hearing on January 18.
The National Science Foundation has chosen former Pennsylvania State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Department dean, William E. Easterling, to serve as the new head of the NSF Directorate for Geosciences (NSF GEO).
President Obama designated two new National Monuments this December: Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah and Gold Butte National Monument in southern Nevada.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump received 279 electoral votes on November 9, defeating Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and securing his presidency.
The White House released its Mid-Century Strategy for Deep Decarbonization, which identifies key actions the United States must take to reduce its carbon footprint by 2050.