Three reports issued by the agency’s inspector general detailed personal attacks suffered by the scientists — including being called “stupid,” “piranhas” and “pot-stirrers” — and called on the EPA to take “appropriate corrective action” in response.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s internal watchdog has found that the agency retaliated against three staffers for expressing different scientific opinions. {beacon}

Five whistleblowers alleged they faced harassment and reassignments, a violation of the agency’s scientific integrity policy.