Ex-Biden official to lead climate advocacy group

By Robin Bravender | 01/16/2025 01:41 PM EST

Gretchen Goldman is returning to the Union of Concerned scientists after stints at the Transportation Department and the White House. 

Gretchen Goldman

Gretchen Goldman will join the Union of Concerned Scientists in February as its president. Farah Skieky/Union of Concerned Scientists

The Union of Concerned Scientists has hired a former Biden administration official as its next boss as the group prepares to battle the incoming Trump team on climate and science policy.

Gretchen Goldman, who served in the Biden Transportation Department and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, will rejoin the Union of Concerned Scientists on Feb. 3 as the group’s president, UCS announced Thursday.

Goldman, an environmental engineer, was research director for UCS’ Center for Science and Democracy during the first Trump administration and returns at the launch of the second Trump term.

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“Every administration has politicized science in ways that hurt regular people, but my experience tells me this will be a whole new ball game,” Goldman said in a statement. “I’m energized for this fight. Together we must uphold the progress we’ve made to fight climate change and find opportunities at the state and regional level to continue the clean energy revolution that is underway.”

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