Silencing Science Tracker Revamped Amid Trump Administration’s Attacks on Science, Public Health, and Environment
Silencing Science Tracker Revamped Amid Trump Administration’s Attacks on Science, Public Health, and Environment
January 20, 2026 – Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund announce the relaunch of the Silencing Science Tracker, an online resource that monitors government efforts to silence science. The tracker has recorded over 700 instances of government attacks on science since the November 2016 election and has been cited in Congressional reports, hearings, news articles, and other publications.
Originally launched in 2018, on the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s first inauguration, the tracker documents government attempts to restrict or prevent scientific research, education, discussion, or the dissemination and use of scientific information since the November 2016 election. While initially focused on federal anti-science actions, in 2019, it was expanded to include actions by local and state governments, which can now be more easily filtered on the updated website. Other new features include improved tagging of entries, making it easier to find specific information and identify patterns of anti-science actions, as well as enhanced tools for finding recently updated entries, a critical feature to keep pace with the flood of anti-science attacks by the current administration.
“Eight years after we launched the Silencing Science Tracker, we are now seeing an even more systematic effort to dismantle the nation’s scientific infrastructure. A healthy society relies on scientists who can pursue the truth wherever it leads, free from political interference or retaliation. This updated resource ensures that every attack on science is documented and brought to light,” said Romany Webb, Deputy Director of the Sabin Center and a Research Scholar at Columbia Law School.
“We launched the Silencing Science Tracker as a safeguard against the first Trump administration. Today, as his current administration moves to undermine the foundations of U.S. science, that safeguard is more critical than ever. By documenting attempts to silence the truth, we ensure that government actions remain transparent. Facts are not a matter of political choice,” said Lauren Kurtz, CSLDF Executive Director.
For decades, climate scientists have faced relentless political and ideological attacks, underscoring the ongoing need for vigilance and thorough documentation. Silencing science isn’t merely a political issue; it has tangible, lasting impacts on public health, the environment, and democracy. Tools like the Silencing Science Tracker enable us to continue to support the vital work of climate scientists – by recording, challenging, and ultimately curbing efforts to undermine science.
The Sabin Center develops legal tools to combat the climate crisis and advance climate justice, and trains the next generation of leaders in the field. The Center is both a partner to and a resource for those engaged in climate change work, and promotes government and private-sector accountability through the compilation and dissemination of information for academic and practitioner communities.
The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund (CSLDF) protects the scientific endeavor by putting its legal expertise to work for scientists who are threatened or silenced due to their findings or fields of study. CSLDF’s work preserves and expands scientists’ rights and strengthens the legal protections that promote scientific integrity.
Visit the new Silencing Science Tracker at www.silencingscience.org.
Media contacts: Olivia Guarna (ong2107@columbia.edu / 212-854-0594) and/or Dana Willbanks (dwillbanks@csldf.org / 315-523-3722)