Senate Hearing: DoD General Counsel Nominee on Apolitical Legal Advice and PFAS

Ensuring Apolitical Legal Advice

• 🎯 Earl G. Matthews, nominee for DoD General Counsel, stated that legal advice from DoD attorneys must be free from political influence.
• 💡 He affirmed that this is the standard and expectation, and if confirmed, he would reinforce this requirement throughout the department.
• 🎖️ Matthews, a reserve officer in the Army JAG Corps, views the role of people in uniform as apolitical, emphasizing they should stay out of politics.

DoD Travel Policy and Community Engagement

• 📌 Senator Shaheen raised concerns that DoD's travel policy restrictions are hindering public participation in community PFAS engagement meetings.
• 🤝 Matthews, unfamiliar with the specific issue, acknowledged the importance of partnership and community engagement and would seek to understand why travel was restricted.
• ✈️ He expressed encouragement for in-person meetings, believing them to be the most effective methodology for engagement.

PFAS Contamination and Health Studies

• 💧 The discussion touched upon PFAS contamination at the former Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire, which affected the water supply of Portsmouth.
• 🔬 The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry conducted a health study on PFAS, examining long-term health effects, with a site in New Hampshire being significant due to its impact on childcare centers.

Personnel Changes at NNSA and DoD

• ⚠️ Senator Shaheen inquired about the firing of Army and Air Force JAGs and sought knowledge from Matthews regarding the reasons, to which he had no direct insight.
• ⚛️ Regarding NNSA, Matthews stated that the workforce is critical and if confirmed, he would carefully evaluate personnel and scope to ensure the safety of nuclear stockpiles.
• 🔬 He would advocate for NNSA personnel, recognizing their special skills and experience that are not easily replicated.