NEWS

Our model scientific integrity policy will help federal agencies and other research institutions adopt strong, comprehensive policies that protect science and scientists.

We created guides for these agencies because each one conducts, funds, or relies on scientific research. They all provide crucial information to the public and formulate policy. And they are all involved, to some degree, with climate research or climate policy. There are also cases of political interference and science being sidelined at each of them.

Our own Lauren Kurtz and Susan Rosenthal co-authored When Politics Trump Science: The Erosion of Science-Based Regulation, an article published in The Environmental Law Reporter. They describe how President Trump has led a concerted effort to undermine federal scientific research, particularly in areas where research findings contradict his own views or undermine the basis of his deregulatory agenda.

Participating in Political Activities: Guidelines for Federally Employed and Federally Funded Scientists will help researchers understand whether they can donate to a candidate, volunteer for a campaign, express their support for a candidate on social media, and engage in other political activities.

The Trump administration has responded to COVID-19 using tactics it honed in the climate arena: ignoring or burying relevant scientific information, pushing misinformation, and silencing scientists who warn us of the dangers. This pervasive “see no evil, hear no evil” approach has handicapped the U.S.’s ability to respond to both of these unfolding crises.

We’re one of the dozens of organizations working to advance good government, public health, and environmental, consumer, human, and civil rights, who today collectively released Restoring Science, Protecting the Public: 43 Steps for the Next Presidential Term. This series of memos provides concrete steps the next administration can take to restore a culture of scientific integrity across the federal government.

As attacks on science escalate during this unprecedented time, it’s critical that we have the resources we need to protect science and scientists. Right now, a group of our supporters is matching all donations made to us, up to $40,000, and we need your help to meet our fundraising goal.

We oppose the rule because it would arbitrarily restrict the use of scientific research in agency decision-making in favor of industry interests.