The Association of American Universities and four other higher education associations wrote the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator urging him to reconsider an October 31, 2017 directive barring scientists who receive EPA grants from serving in advisory roles, due to a purported conflict of interest or lack of objectivity. The letter argues that the researchers deemed worthy of receiving taxpayer funds for research are the very experts that the EPA should turn to for advice. This, combined with ethical standards and conflict of interest rules, allows for the selection of the most qualified researchers to conduct EPA research and it is only logical to allow these researchers to serve in scientific advisory roles.