Reflections on the Fight for Science
Dismissing the entire National Science Board. Blocking the release of research findings about the benefits of vaccines. Cutting potentially billions of dollars from federal scientific agencies. While the second Trump administration has intensified the war on science even more than his first—disastrous—term, we have seen such attacks before.
In spite of the strong headwinds, however, we are still here, and so are the 37 scientists who have come to us for help this year. Many of them are current or former federal employees who refuse to let science be politicized.
At CSLDF, we continue our 15-year mission of defending scientists, no matter how powerful our opponents may be. Next month, you can join that fight and make an even greater impact—stay tuned for information on our upcoming Summer Match campaign in our June newsletter.
For those who wish to engage in advocacy and activism as we head into the critical 2026 midterm elections, CSLDF is participating in the upcoming American Geophysical Union (AGU) Science Votes the Future webinar series on June 17. Our workshop, “Safely Exercising Your Free Speech and First Amendment Rights During Election Season,” will discuss how federal employees and others can responsibly speak up for science in the lead-up to the elections. For more information on this and other upcoming events, check out our events page. We also offer a free library of resources for legal topics related to scientific research and advocacy.
Our ability to not only recognize but respond to the ongoing assault on science stems from our 15-year history of resistance. We remain, as always, committed to defending the scientific endeavor.
In honor of our 15th anniversary, we have asked our board members, friends, and long-standing staff for their insights into what they’ve learned on the frontlines of defending climate science.
Our Executive Director, Lauren Kurtz, shares her observations on how anti-science attacks have shifted over the years:
“Attacks on science have evolved over the years. Initially, we saw attacks on the veracity of the research, claiming that climate change was fake news. And while that still happens – President Trump has repeatedly called climate change a “hoax” – we are now more likely to see attacks attempting to shut down efforts to educate or provide information. The current generation of attacks largely centers around whether scientists have acted “appropriately” in communicating about their science and the implications.
The good news is we’re all in this together. Thanks to our supporters, generous donors, and pro bono volunteers, we’ve been able to directly assist hundreds of scientists and arm thousands more with education about their legal rights.”
-Lauren Kurtz, CSLDF Executive Director
Upcoming Events
Second Conference on Attribution Science and Climate Law
June 10 – 11, 2026 | Columbia Law School or via Zoom
The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the Columbia Climate School are hosting the second Attribution Science and Climate Law Conference. This interdisciplinary conference will examine the evolving field of climate change attribution science and its implications for law, litigation, governance, and policy. Join physical scientists, public health researchers, economists, social scientists, legal scholars, and legal practitioners as we explore these and other topics.
2026 AAG Department Leadership Workshop
June 15, 2026 | 1 pm | Zoom
The 23rd annual American Association of Geographers (AAG) Department Leadership Workshop will help members respond effectively to challenges and understand the opportunities and constraints geography departments may face in the coming years. CSLDF attorneys will take part in the session “Safeguarding Academic Freedom,” during which we will bring our unique perspective as a legal organization that supports researchers to complement the department-based viewpoints of our fellow panelists.
Webinar: Safely Exercising Your Free Speech and First Amendment Rights During Election Season
June 17, 2026 | 12 pm | Zoom
The 2026 midterm elections are fast approaching, and the stakes are higher than ever. AGU’s Science Votes the Future webinar series will help attendees feel confident leading up to the election and at the ballot box. CSLDF attorneys will provide a primer on safely exercising First Amendment rights, how federal employees and those working with federal funds can responsibly engage in advocacy and activism, and how to do so in a current political climate in which many bedrock rights are under threat.
Resource Highlight
Research Protections in State Open Records Laws: An Analysis and Ranking
Legal protections for scientific research materials vary widely in the United States, leaving scientists and universities vulnerable to malicious open records requests that can endanger the scientific endeavor. Our 50 State Report is the first in-depth analysis of the existing protections for scientific records, and their applications, in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The guide is intended to help scientists and attorneys understand the best way to manage and respond to a FOIA inquiry, and encourage policymakers to consider the special issues of scientific transparency and enact policies that protect these important materials.
We remain committed to protecting and defending scientists. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please reach out for a free, confidential consultation with one of our attorneys.
Your support powers our work. If you are able, please consider making a donation to help us stand with climate scientists during these turbulent times.