Primary Legal and Government Sources

1. Court Rulings on FACA Violations
A U.S. federal judge ruled that the Climate Working Group violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act by being formed and operating in secret without required transparency - a key point in your paper.

Reuters - US federal court says Energy Dept climate group violated law (Jan 30 2026).

2. Legal Challenge and Records Disclosures
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) sued DOE for violating FACA. After prevailing in court, they obtained internal emails and records showing secret meetings and coordination.

House Committee press release - Ranking Member Lofgren Condemns Climate Working Group Sham.
EDF press release - Newly Disclosed Records Show Unlawful Actions & Secret Meetings.

These records show:
At least 18 secret meetings in 2025.

Statements urging secrecy.

Evidence the CWG's work was directed to undermine scientific consensus.

3. Expert Reporting on the Court Decision & Report Use
Scientific reporting confirmed the court's ruling that DOE acted illegally in forming the CWG, and that EPA cited the group's report to justify reversing long-standing climate policy.

Chemical & Engineering News - Judge rules DOE climate group illegal... but lets their science stand.

Key points:

Judge affirmed FACA applies and that the group was improperly constituted.

EPA extensively cited the CWG's flawed report in its proposal to repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding.

4. Orders to Release Internal Records
Separate reporting shows a federal judge ordered DOE to release CWG records as part of transparency litigation - confirming the existence of internal communications relevant to your claims about secrecy and coordination.

E&E News / POLITICO - Judge orders DOE to release records on Climate Working Group.

5. Litigation Background (Complaint Details)
A climate litigation tracker recounts the lawsuit alleging the CWG was unlawfully created, lacked balance, and was intended for use in repealing the Endangerment Finding - exactly the assertions in your paper.

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law - Climate Litigation Updates.

Sources
Claim in Paper	Source Support
CWG violated FACA	Reuters court ruling (turn0news19)
Secret meetings & emails exist	EDF & UCS disclosures (turn0search0, turn0search6)
Judge ordered DOE email records released	E&E News / POLITICO (turn0search7)
CWG report used in EPA Endangerment Finding repeal	C&EN reporting (turn0search1)
Litigation alleges improper constitution and intent	Sabin Center (turn0search2)


Authoritative backup for specific statements:

"A U.S. District Court found that the DOE Climate Working Group violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act."

"Internal emails obtained through litigation show that CWG meetings were conducted in secret and directed toward undermining the Endangerment Finding."

"The EPA extensively cited the CWG report in its proposal to repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding."

"A federal judge ordered DOE to release CWG records as part of transparency requirements under FACA."

"The CWG was assembled with hand‑picked skeptics without balanced viewpoints, contrary to FACA requirements."