Emails of Trump Adviser Aiming to Challenge Global Warming Worries

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546-0001
May 31, 2019
Reply to attn. of: Office of Communications
Mr. Benjamin Levitan
and Lance Bowman
Environmental Defense Fund
1875 Connecticut Ave., NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20009
Re: FOIA Tracking Number 19-HQ-F-00404
Dear Mr. Levitan and Bowman:
This is the final response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), dated March 25, 2019, and received in this
office on March 26, 2019. You sought numerous records pertaining to any climate review. In
an email dated April 1, 2019, however, you clarified that your request seeks records
pertaining to a meeting reportedly convened by the White House/National Security Council in
February 2019 regarding a review of climate science. Specifically, you seek records
pertaining to:
1) Any invitation or request for NASA to participate in the February 2019 meeting, or
any other meetings concerning climate science;
2) Whether NASA participated in any meetings or discussion related to climate science;
3) Any discussions about the nature and extent of NASA’s involvement in climate
science; and
4) Anything else about the White House/National Security Council review of climate
science, such as its structure, goals, purpose, and methods.
Our interim response, dated May 8, 2019, summarized our work on your request thus far. It
also provided you with 57 pages of records obtained from our search within ITCD, and
advised that we would provide you with another response once our review of records located
in the Office of Interagency and Intergovernmental Relations (OIIR) is complete. That review
is now complete and remaining records from ITCD as well as OIIR are enclosed.
Please note that the enclosed records include communications originating from the National
Security Council (NSC), a component of the White House that is not subject to the FOIA.
Although these communications from the White House do not constitute “agency records”
that are subject to FOIA, NASA consulted with the NSC in an effort to release to you as much
information as possible. Thus we, in consultation with the NSC, reviewed under the FOIA the
responsive records to determine whether they may be accessed under the FOIA's provisions.
Based on that review, this office is providing the following:

2
50 page(s) are being released in full (RIF);
10 page(s) are being released in part (RIP);
10 page(s) identified as non-agency records per consultation with National Security
Council;
NASA redacted from the enclosed documents certain information pursuant to the following
FOIA exemptions:
Exemption 6, 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(6)
Exemption 6 allows withholding of “personnel and medical files and similar files the
disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.” 5
U.S.C. § 552(b)(6)(emphasis added). NASA invokes exemption 6 to protect the names of
private individuals, as well as email addresses and other contact information of third parties
referenced in these records.
Appeal
You have the right to appeal my action on your request. Please send any appeal to:
Administrator
NASA Headquarters
Executive Secretariat
ATTN: FOIA Appeals
MS 9R17
300 E Street S.W.
Washington, DC 2054
Both the envelope and letter of appeal should be clearly marked, “Appeal under the Freedom
of Information Act.” You must also include a copy of your initial request, the adverse
determination, and any other correspondence with the FOIA office. In order to expedite the
appellate process and ensure full consideration of your appeal, your appeal should contain a
brief statement of the reasons you believe this initial determination should be reversed.
Assistance and Dispute Resolution Services
For further assistance and to discuss any aspect of your request you may contact NASA’s
Principal FOIA Officer, Nikki Gramian, via telephone at 202-358-0625 or via e-mail at
Nikki.N.Gramian@NASA.gov. You may also send correspondence to Ms. Gramian at the
following address:
Freedom of Information Act Office
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA Headquarters
300 E Street, S.W., 5P32
Washington D.C. 20546
Fax: 202-358-4332

3
Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the
National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services
it offers. The contact information for OGIS is as follows:
Office of Government Information Services
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS
College Park, Maryland 20740-6001
Email: ogis@nara.gov
Telephone: 202-741-5770
Toll free: 1-877-684-6448
Fax: 202-741-5769
Important: Please note that contacting any agency official including the undersigned,
NASA’s Principal FOIA Officer, and/or OGIS is not an alternative to filing an administrative
appeal and does not stop the 90 day appeal clock.
Sincerely,
Electronic signature /S/
Stephanie K. Fox
Team Lead / Chief FOIA Public Liaison
Enclosures

Re: Daily on Energy, presented by GAIN: Rift grows in GOP over climate change
... Greens celebrate Endangered Species Day
Hi, Wil:
I’ll embed my reaction within your e-mail
On May 19, 2018, at 8:27 AM, William Happer <mailto > wrote:
Dear Tom,
Thanks for the assessment. With repect to Fred Singer's WSJ Op Ed, I was surprised to read what seemed to be a
statement that the rate of sea level rise is "accelerating." I don’t see that in the tide gauge data. Neither do I. Could this
be another editorial improvement? Quite likely. Fred told me he is limited to typing with only one hand, and was having
a difficult time doing so. I asked him to send me the final WSJ submission (that I was originally supposed to get prior to
its delivery), and he thinks it may have been accidentally erased. Some of the “factoids” that I talked to Fred about
ended up in his thinking, but the floating Ross Ice Shelf contributing to SLR was not one of them. He did use some of
the Zwally paper’s conclusions, but reference to it was either omitted or deleted by the WSJ.
And how Bridenstein or anyone else can say that humans are a major cause of warming is a puzzle to me. I’ll go along
with humans playing a major role in the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere, from a relatively steady 280ppm for the
past two thousand years +, to over 400ppm, starting in the late 1700s, but oceanic warming did not follow at anything
near the CO2 increase rate. Whatever warming we have had over the past 50 or so years is indistinguishable from
many previous warmings. You are absolutely correct!!! Per EPICA and Vostok, the past three interglacials each were
warmer than the present, and there were no factory or transportation emissions helping boost temperatures along
back then.
I still believe Jim Bridenstine was trying to diffuse what is essentially a non mission-critical issue, as the Potomac
estuary will not inundate NASA Headquarters anytime soon, or within anyone’s lifetime either. NASA is an agency far
different than the one I worked in during the Apollo days, and the challenge Jim faces will be getting it back to a no-
nonsense, measured and validated data orientation. Catastrophic SLR and runaway temperature rise is part of the
nonsense, and he will be wise to systematically sidestep it for the short term.
Tom
Will
_____
From: Thomas Wysmuller <mailto ]
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2018 3:40 AM
To: William Happer
Cc: Bridenstine James; Singer S. Fred
From: Thomas Wysmuller <
To: William Happer < >
Cc: Bridenstine James <james.f.bridenstine@nasa.gov>, Singer S. Fred
< >, Bridenstine, James F. (HQ-AA000) </O=NASA/OU=EXCHANGE
ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=Bridenstine, James F 8724750558df>
Sent: May 19, 2018 11:12:32 AM EDT
Received: May 19, 2018 11:12:44 AM EDT
Re_ Daily on Energy, presented by
GAIN_ Rift grows in GOP over climate
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Subject: Re: Daily on Energy, presented by GAIN: Rift grows in GOP over climate change ... Greens celebrate
Endangered Species Day
Hi, Wil:
No real “insight,” but here’s my short reaction to a Newsweek piece - same subject - in the comments at the end.
< http://www.newsweek.com/climate-change-skeptic-bridenstine-tells-nasa-he-believes-human-caused-global-931585
>
He’s entered a hornets nest without a smoke pot and I hope will methodically let the NASA “hive” settle down. There is
much to do there, major mission critical work in fact, and having a climate oriented disruption during his first month is
not in his, or the nation’s, best interest. My guess is that he intelligently quickly read the “lay of the land” and is acting
accordingly.
I do intend to eventually see Jim Bridenstine at some time in the next month or so, but well after the NY climate
conference where I’ll be with next week.
On another issue, Fred Singer was going to collaborate with me on an article he was putting together for the WSJ, but
for some reason went at it on his own. According to a phone conversation I had with Fred earlier tonight, the WSJ
severely edited it, and the usual suspects are jumping all over it, to Fred’s dismay.
Best to you, Wil, and I hope you don’t mind the ccs!
Tom
PS No bccs
On May 18, 2018, at 11:05 PM, William Happer <mailto > > wrote:
Dear Tom,
Do you have any insight about the remarks attributed to Bridenstine below?
Will
Begin forwarded message:
From: Washington Examiner <news@washingtonexaminer.com <mailto:news@washingtonexaminer.com> >
Subject: Daily on Energy, presented by GAIN: Rift grows in GOP over climate change ... Greens celebrate
Endangered Species Day
Date: May 18, 2018 at 12:39:42 PM PDT
To: @rangemagazine.com <mailto rangemagazine.com> >
Reply-To: Washington Examiner <news@washingtonexaminer.com <mailto:news@washingtonexaminer.com> >
Washington Examiner's Daily On Energy Newsletter View this as website <https://mediadc.us17.list-
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SIGN UP! If you’d like to continue receiving Washington Examiner's Daily onEnergy newsletter, SUBSCRIBE HERE:
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manage.com/track/click?u=00b18e7544dd3ec267591c592&id=bee9994ab3&e=3264bae676> daily-on-energy/
RIFT GROWS IN GOP OVER CLIMATE CHANGE: Republicans who support combating climate change were shaking
their heads Friday after a “wild day” during which members of the GOP expressed divergent views on the subject.
“Thursday was a wild day that shows us that most GOP representatives’ views on climate science are informed more
by their ideological commitments than empirical fact or careful study,” Joseph Majkut, director of climate policy at the
Niskanen Center, a free-market think tank, told Josh.
Rock and a hard place: Early Thursday, Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., said that rocks falling into the ocean are causing sea
levels to rise, preaching climate denial during a hearing focused on technologies that can help address global
warming.
Brooks, a Tea Party Republican, said rocks from the California coastline and the White Cliffs of Dover tumble into the
sea every year, contributing to sea-level rise.
"Every time you have that soil or rock or whatever it is that is deposited into the seas, that forces the sea levels to rise,
because now you have less space in those oceans, because the bottom is moving up," Brooks said from his perch on
the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
Steve Valk, director of communications of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a group focused on inspiring Republicans to
take climate action, called Brooks’ remark the “hand-slapping-forehead moment of the week.”
‘Put politics aside’: Later in the day, Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla, a moderate whose state is already feeling the effects
of sea level rise, boasted in an enthusiastic press release that the Climate Solutions Caucus that he heads had added
five new members, including three Republicans.
The new GOP entrants, Reps. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota, Peter Roskam of Illinois, and Tom MacArthur of New
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Jersey, bring the climate caucus membership to 78, half of whom are Republicans, showing that Congress can “put
politics aside” to combat climate change, Curbelo said.
‘Major way’: But politics surely affected the calculus of former House conservative lawmaker Jim Bridenstine of
Oklahoma, who expressed denial of humans’ role in climate change before becoming the new administrator of NASA
last month.
Now that he heads an agency that studies the changing climate, and doesn’t represent a conservative district in
Congress, Bridenstine is expressing new views.
"I fully believe and know that the climate is changing. I also know that we, human beings, are contributing to it in a
major way," Bridenstine told NASA employees at a town hall-style meeting Thursday.
Majkut and Valk hope the actions of Bridenstine and the Climate Solutions Caucus’ Republicans send a message to
other conservatives.
Patience please: “Low information beliefs are malleable,” Majkut said. “Look what happened with Mr. Bridenstine. As
soon as he started working with a bunch of experts down the hall, his rhetoric shifted substantially. I hope his
leadership demonstrates that one can fully embrace climate science, or even think climate change is bad, without
surrendering his membership in the Conservative movement.”
Added Valk: “Progress is being made. Patience will eventually be rewarded.”
This email was sent to rangemagazine.com <mailto angemagazine.com>
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MediaDC · 1152 15th St NW Ste 200 · Suite 200 · Washington, DC 20005-1799 · USA
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FW: NASA website
Dear James,
thanks for the kind greeting from Jim Bridenstine.
Best wishes,
Will
--
Dr. William Happer
Deputy Assistant to the President
Senior Director for Emerging Technologies
From: Happer, William EOP/NSC < >
To: 'j.morhard@nasa.gov' <j.morhard@nasa.gov>
Sent: February 26, 2019 9:53:18 AM EST
Received: February 26, 2019 9:53:21 AM EST
FW_ NASA website
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Not an Agency Record
Not an Agency Record

National Security Council
From: William Happer < >
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2019 6:54 AM
To: Happer, William EOP/NSC < >
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Fw: NASA website
From:
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2019 3:57 AM
To: William Happer
Cc:
Subject: NASA website
26th February 2019
Dear Will
It's been a while since we last communicated and I'm contacting you with reference to the NASA website and its
climate content for kids at: >https://climatekids.nasa.gov/menu/weather-and-climate/<
<>https:/climatekids.nasa.gov/menu/weather-and-climate/<>
And the main NASA climate site at: >https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/< <>https:/climate.nasa.gov/evidence/<>
In Australia, many primary school teachers (and secondary) use the NASA website to teach about climate change and
most have very little science background so essentially the blind are leading the blind, trusting the accuracy of
information on climate provided by NASA.
Much of the material on both sites are biased, emotive and without any evidence. There are statements such as:
"Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due
to human activities, and most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements
endorsing this position."
And: "The Maldives are vulnerable to sea level rise."
The site references the IPCC and Ben Santer as authorities, ignoring many facts that oppose the alarmism. I'm
concerned that many children are being indoctrinated by this bad science.
I have emailed the Site Editor Holly Shaftel and Site Manager Randal Jackson putting forward my constructive
criticism with evidence but received no reply. I have mailed a letter (yes - one with stamps!) to the NASA
administration and received no reply.
Are you able to give me any email addresses for personnel at NASA who might do something about this
misinformation that a trusting public will accept without question.
Many thanks and kind regards.
FW_ NASA website
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P.S. I hope global warming isn't bringing too much snow to your area.
FW_ NASA website
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Re: Feedback?
The progress made by our whole NASA TRCS group - and its growing reputation for excellence - never ceases to
amaze me!!!
PS a few bccs
On Mar 4, 2019, at 10:24 PM, <mailto > wrote:
Tom,
Thanks a lot for dropping your dime on Will’s desk!
“By chance, Tom Wysmuller stopped by my office on Saturday,…”
I love it! You never cease to amaze me.
From: Hal Doiron [mailto ]
Sent: 4 March, 2019 12:23 PM
To:
Cc <mailto > ;
Subject: Fw: Feedback?
,
FYI. I took my shot at getting involved with the Trump Administration's review of climate science that Dr. Will Happer is
heading up in his role as New Technology Adviser to John Bolton, the National Security Advisor.
Tom Wysmuller,
Thanks for suggesting Will Happer send me his paper for review. What have you learned about how he plans to
conduct the internal Administration review of the Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) threat?
Hal
Harold H. Doiron, PhD
Home/Ofc: Cell:
From: Thomas Wysmuller <
To:
Cc: Doiron Hal <
Sent: March 5, 2019 12:20:55 AM EST
Received: March 5, 2019 12:21:13 AM EST
Re_ Feedback_
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----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Hal Doiron < <mailto > >
To: <mailto > <
<mailto > >
Cc: <mailto > <mailto > >;
<mailto > <mailto >
Sent: Monday, March 4, 2019 12:15:59 PM CST
Subject: Re: Feedback?
Will,
I am honored that you would want me to review your paper. I will get to it this week.
I am also very eager to get involved with the internal government review of climate science that newspaper reports
indicate you are organizing. As you know, I have been leading a NASA retiree independent assessment of the
Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) issue for the last 7 years. Our assessment of GHG climate sensitivity is
completed and we believe Transient Cilmate Response is bounded to the high side by 1.3C and Equilibrium Climate
Sensitivity is <1.6C. Our results are essentially the same as published by Lewis and Curry (2018) using similar data.
We derived a simple algebraic global mean surface temperature model from Conservation of Energy (Power in
W/m^2) considerations and validated it with HadCRUT4 global temp data and AR5 atmospheric GHG and aerosol
concentration history since 1850. Our analysis assumed the generally accepted reduction in IR flux leaving the
atmosphere for doubling CO2 concentration was 3.71 W/m^2, and that surface temperature would adjust to
compensate. We conservatively assumed that all observed HadCRUT4 global surface temperature increase since
1850 was due to rising atmospheric GHG and aerosol concentrations and none was due to a likely natural 1000 year
warming cycle that fits the Roman Warm Period, Medieval Warm Period AND Little ice Age surface temperature
variations, and that should peak out in about 2100.
The HadCRUT4 data and atmospheric GHG history allowed us to determine Transient Climate Response which was
an undetermined constant in our simple algebraic model that related surface temperature to atmospheric GHG
concentration. Our value for Transient Climate Response is < 1.3C including all climate feedbacks. The generally
accepted 1.1C warming value for surface temperature increase without climate feedbacks due to doubling CO2
concentration (ie. due only to the 3.71 W/m^2 reduction in outgoing IR flux). This proves with data that climate
feedbacks have at most, a small positive effect. When natural warming cycle effects in the temperature data are
considered, climate feedbacks could be negative, or stabilizing. At any rate, there is no cause for climate alarm and we
estimate <1C additional warming by 2100 (should be beneficial) due to burning all currently known world-wide
reserves of coal, oil and natural gas.
Best regards,
Hal Doiron
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android<https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct
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Re_ Feedback_
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th&af_sub3=EmailSignature>
On Sun, Mar 3, 2019 at 8:28 PM, William Happer
<mailto > > wrote:
Dear Hal,
By chance, Tom Wysmuller stopped by my office on Saturday, and I showed him a copy of the attached draft paper
that and I hope to finish soon. Tom urged me to send you a copy, even without asking
permission which I would normally do. If you have time to look it over and provide feedback on how to make it more
useful to a wider readership, and I would be very grateful.
We hope to publish the paper in a journal like Reviews of Modern Physics for readers who are not intimidated by
integral equations or quantum mechanics. But we also hope that it will be useful to smart readers without a lot of
mathematics background.
Key parts that require almost no math are Figs. 9-11, which show how little you change the infrared flux leaving the
Earth if you double the concentrations of CO2, N2O or CH4. Table 4 shows the correspondingly small temperature
changes needed to restore thermal equilibrium if you double the concentrations.
We would be very pleased to get some feedback.
Best wishes,
Will
Re_ Feedback_
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Deletion Page
10 pages of non-agency record withheld per
consultation with NSC

Emails of Trump Adviser Aiming to Challenge Global Warming Worries

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