USGS scientists open to change

The recent News Feature “Hurdling obstacles” (E. R. Shell, 8 July, p. 116) provided an insightful summary of Marcia McNutt's career. However, we reject the idea that “USGS [U.S. Geological Survey] scientists… were known for their resistance to change.” As interviews with USGS scientists throughout the article demonstrate, scientists in Menlo Park applauded (literally) the changes Director McNutt brought to the USGS when she announced them. The scientists at the USGS continue to do yeoman's work with near level (and due to inflation, effectively declining) budgets. Moreover, their programs are vulnerable to further cuts due to increasing costs of space at the Menlo Park campus. USGS researchers in Menlo Park continue to be world leaders across a broad spectrum of disciplines in the Earth sciences.