2026
IMPACT
REPORT
Thank you to all our donors for your partnership in a tough year for climate science. Your support is a lifeline for every climate researcher under fire, including those who only seek to advocate for truth. 2026 accomplishments include:
√ Winning a case where academic freedoms were being attacked by a dark money funded group hoping to intimidate a researcher who is holding fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate change
√ Filing a lawsuit against the administration for violating the First Amendment rights of a scientist who spoke out about the importance of protecting scientific research and evidence-based policies
√ Adding more lawyers to the team, so that the increasing number of scientists who need access to legal support have the representation they need
√ Increasing educational outreach efforts through new partnerships with scientific groups and higher education organizations, and adding to our freely available publications
√ Launching an updated Silencing Science Tracker to hold the administration to account for their anti-science actions.
√ Submitting formal comments and testimony regarding the importance of scientific protections in response to proposed federal and state regulations
And there’s more to come. Your partnership is:
√ Educating as many scientists as possible ahead of the midterm elections with our Political Action Toolkit, a collection of free legal resources that explain the best practices for safely and effectively engaging in political advocacy
√ Further growing the legal team with a focus on climate litigation support, to bring more bad actors to justice in this vital field and keep the scientific experts safe
√ Working with our Board, Advisory Committee, and other scientific groups to understand the evolving needs of climate scientists and respond quickly with agile programming and resources
√ Tirelessly aiming to protect science wherever possible through challenging proposed changes that would upend the scientific endeavor, and working with coalitions to bring legal responses
Featured story: An act of resistance – water expert Elin is standing up to the administration
“The right to criticize our government and expose government wrongdoing is foundational to our democracy. But this right is meaningless if the government can freely punish dissent.”
These are the opening words of a federal lawsuit CSLDF filed against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this year, representing drinking water expert Elin, who is bravely challenging the EPA’s attempts to silence researchers. Elin is one of thousands of federal employees and advisors targeted by the administration. Why? Last summer, she joined hundreds of EPA colleagues to sign the “EPA Declaration of Dissent,” a petition criticizing policies that undermine the agency’s mission to protect public health and the environment. In response, the agency retaliated against the signers–including by firing Elin.
More than a blatant violation of the First Amendment, this is a direct threat to public safety and scientific integrity. The administration’s efforts to silence expert dissent present a clear danger to us all. But when brave individuals like Elin stand up, it reminds us that resistance is possible–and essential.
2026 IMPACT REPORT
Thank you to all our donors for your partnership in a tough year for climate science. Your support is a lifeline for every climate researcher under fire, including those who only seek to advocate for truth. 2026 accomplishments include:
√ Winning a case where academic freedoms were being attacked by a dark money funded group hoping to intimidate a researcher who is holding fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate change
√ Filing a lawsuit against the administration for violating the First Amendment rights of a scientist who spoke out about the importance of protecting scientific research and evidence-based policies
√ Adding more lawyers to the team, so that the increasing number of scientists who need access to legal support have the representation they need
√ Increasing educational outreach efforts through new partnerships with scientific groups and higher education organizations, and adding to our freely available publications
√ Launching an updated Silencing Science Tracker to hold the administration to account for their anti-science actions.
√ Submitting formal comments and testimony regarding the importance of scientific protections in response to proposed federal and state regulations
And there’s more to come. Your partnership is:
√ Educating as many scientists as possible ahead of the midterm elections with our Political Action Toolkit, a collection of free legal resources that explain the best practices for safely and effectively engaging in political advocacy
√ Further growing the legal team with a focus on climate litigation support, to bring more bad actors to justice in this vital field and keep the scientific experts safe
√ Working with our Board, Advisory Committee, and other scientific groups to understand the evolving needs of climate scientists and respond quickly with agile programming and resources
√ Tirelessly aiming to protect science wherever possible through challenging proposed changes that would upend the scientific endeavor, and working with coalitions to bring legal responses
Featured story: An act of resistance – water expert Elin is standing up to the administration
“The right to criticize our government and expose government wrongdoing is foundational to our democracy. But this right is meaningless if the government can freely punish dissent.”
These are the opening words of a federal lawsuit CSLDF filed against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this year, representing drinking water expert Elin, who is bravely challenging the EPA’s attempts to silence researchers. Elin is one of thousands of federal employees and advisors targeted by the administration. Why? Last summer, she joined hundreds of EPA colleagues to sign the “EPA Declaration of Dissent,” a petition criticizing policies that undermine the agency’s mission to protect public health and the environment. In response, the agency retaliated against the signers–including by firing Elin.
More than a blatant violation of the First Amendment, this is a direct threat to public safety and scientific integrity. The administration’s efforts to silence expert dissent present a clear danger to us all. But when brave individuals like Elin stand up, it reminds us that resistance is possible–and essential.