A-score 29.2: Elimination of EPA R&D office represents significant institutional degradation through resource_reallocation mechanism. Rule_of_law (3.5*0.18=0.63): Undermines statutory mandate for environmental protection research under Clean Air Act and other laws requiring scientific basis. Separation (2.5*0.16=0.40): Weakens independent scientific capacity, reducing checks on political decision-making. Civil_rights (1.5*0.14=0.21): Environmental research protects vulnerable communities from pollution. Capture (4*0.14=0.56): Strong indicator of industry influence eliminating inconvenient research capacity. Corruption (2*0.10=0.20): Removes oversight and evidence-gathering function. Severity multipliers: durability 1.1 (rebuilding scientific capacity takes years), reversibility 1.0 (can be restored but with talent/data loss), precedent 1.1 (normalizes gutting agency scientific functions). Mechanism modifier 1.15 (resource_reallocation directly degrades institutional capacity). Scope 1.1 (federal agency with broad environmental mandate). B-score 16.4: Moderate hype. Layer1 (5.23*0.55=2.88): outrage_bait 3 (environmental advocates alarmed), media_friendliness 3 (clear narrative about science vs politics). Layer2 (3.61*0.45=1.62): pattern_match 2.5 (fits broader deregulation narrative), mismatch 2 (substantive institutional change). Intentionality 6/15 (0.136 weight): strategic_timing and policy_alignment evident. Delta +12.8 clearly exceeds +10 threshold with A>=25.