NEWS

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, writes staff attorney Augusta Wilson in a new blog post.

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.

Lauren Kurtz, our director, is quoted in The New York Times on the challenges of combating attacks on science. Our pro bono client Maria Caffrey, a climate scientist who was forced out of her job at the National Park Service in 2019, was also interviewed.

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.