#DayAgainstDenial Calls on Senate to Reject Trump's Anti-Science Cabinet

More than 70 rallies and other events are slated to take place at lawmakers' offices around the country on Monday. (Photo: Joe Brusky/flickr/cc)

#DayAgainstDenial Calls on Senate to Reject Trump's Anti-Science Cabinet

Nationwide actions highlight climate denialism of cabinet appointees, including Rex Tillerson as secretary of state and Scott Pruitt as head of EPA

Environmental groups are launching a nationwide campaign on Monday to highlight the climate denialism rampant among President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks and demand lawmakers reject their nominations.

#DayAgainstDenial, spearheaded by the climate group 350.org but supported by a coalition of organizations and activists, calls on the U.S. Senate to vote against Trump's nominees to lead his administration, including former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, tapped for secretary of state; former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, nominated for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief; former Texas Governor Rick Perry for secretary of energy; and Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) for secretary of the interior.

All four have denied climate change and have ties to the fossil fuel industry, the groups said.

"Repeat after me," 350's communications director Jamie Henn wrote on Twitter. "The CEO of the world's largest oil company should not run our foreign policy."

More than 70 rallies and other events are slated to take place at lawmakers' offices around the country on Monday. Organizers say they see the day of action as the start to long-term resistance to Trump's anti-science agenda.

"The climate is changing, and anyone who denies this shouldn't be in the White House cabinet. It's up to the Senate to stop these nominations--and up to us to show up in person to tell our senators to fight Trump's climate denial cabinet," 350 said.

Confirmation hearings are set to take place throughout the week.

The groups added that separate campaigns will target other controversial cabinet appointees--including attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and labor secretary nominee Andy Puzder--throughout January.

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