"the deconstruction of the administrative state"

That’s Steve Bannon’s term for the elimination of environmental and consumer protections.  Bannon may be gone, but cabinet officials are proceeding to carry out his objectives.  

On Tuesday Scott Pruitt, head of the E.P.A., dropped scientists and academics from a number of advisory positions and replaced them with industry representatives.  He also barred anyone who receives grants from the E.P.A. from advising the agency on scientific matters.

E.P.A. grants are used to study environmental issues, and the rule will eliminate a large number of experts.  Pruitt says he is doing this to avoid a conflict of interest.  

The industry flacks who are replacing the dismissed experts get no grant money, so they will not have a conflict of interest, according to Pruitt.