Climate change sceptic William Happer stepping down from White House post

But that plan faltered after generating opposition from current and former federal officials concerned that the panel would impose a political test on reports issued by science agencies.

A senior administration official says Happer is returning to academia and that the administration thanks him for his “tireless efforts” to ensure the president’s policies were “based on transparent and defensible science.”

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters.