The Trump administration and 115th Congress have been actively dismantling science-based health and safety protections, sidelining scientific evidence, and undoing recent progress on scientific integrity.
We've seen this movie before. And we know how to fight back. We're standing up for science. We're inviting scientists to securely share information on scientific integrity abuses. And we're encouraging our supporters to watchdog this administration and Congress, as we did during the George W. Bush administration and the Barack Obama administration.
Below is a running list of attacks on science—disappearing data, silenced scientists, and other assaults on scientific integrity and science-based policy. The list provides a representative sample of threats to the federal scientific enterprise.
Beyond this list, many other moves by the president and Congress degrade the environment for science and scientists in this country. For example, the president’s Muslim ban hurts science and scientists, including those working for the federal government and the president’s rescinding transgender protections is damaging to the ability of all young budding scientists to reach their full potential. These actions are also important to document, and we continue do so on the UCS blog.
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Attacks on science
Decisionmaking Process at EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board has Become More Secretive
Most members of the EPA's scientific advisory board are now restricted from a certain decisionmaking process.
Polar Bear Study Opened Up for Public Comment Period to Undermine its Findings
The Trump administration opened an unprecedented public comment period to solicit public feedback on a peer-reviewed scientific study.
White House Directs EPA Scientists to Downplay a Chemical’s Link to Heart Defects
White House political officials downplayed the danger of the chemical TCE.
DOI Official Modified Scientific Reports to Increase Doubt on Climate Change Science
An official at the DOI inserted inaccurate language on climate change into at least nine scientific reports.
The Forest Service Allows Mining Company to Determine its own Environmental Impact
The Trump administration is allowing a mining company to write its own environmental assessment.
For Coronavirus, Federal Scientists are Restricted in What They Can Say to the Public
Federal health officials and scientists are now required to coordinate all statements and public appearances on novel coronavirus with the Office of the Vice President.
NOAA Political Officials Sidelined the Science on How to Protect an Endangered Whale Species
Officials at NOAA removed recommendations that were based on the best available science to protect the whale species.
HHS Officials Sent Workers to Coronavirus Hot Zone Without Protective Gear
Officials at HHS sent workers to Wuhan, China in late January and early February, in the middle of the coronavirus epidemic, without proper training or personal protective equipment.
Trump Administration Stops Collection of Data that Could Reveal Pay Discrimination Practices
The EEOC is nixing the collection of worker’s pay data, sorted by race, sex, ethnicity, and job category, from businesses with over 100 employees.
EPA Scientists Were Suppressed from Commenting on Stream and Wetland Protections
The EPA's political appointees suppressed the ability of EPA staff to provide scientific input during the public comment process on a proposed rule.
The EPA Failed to Analyze the Effects on Children’s Health from Polluting Trucks
The EPA failed to carry out analyses that would have assessed whether the health of children would be compromised by a rule that would have allowed the sale of trucks that have highly polluting engines in them.
DOI Officials Suppressed Scientist’s Concerns on Oil Rig Worker Safety
A political appointee at the DOI suppressed objections of engineers on a rule that rolled back protections for the safety of offshore oil rig workers.
The Trump Administration Halts Data Collection on Student Loan Forgiveness Program
The DOE blocked the CFPB from obtaining data on a student loan forgiveness program.
EPA Restricts Scientific Advisory Committee from Weighing-in on Potentially Dangerous Chemicals
the EPA has forbidden SACC from commenting on some of the EPA’s decisionmaking processes which have a scientific basis, such as certain routes of exposure, worker safety protections, cancer risks, and the quality of industry data.
Trump Administration Disavows Own Meteorologists for Issuing Factual Statement on Hurricane Dorian
White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, ordered Wilbur Ross to make sure that NWS forecasters not contradict the President even when he is wrong.
The US Navy Quietly Shut Down its Task Force on Climate Change
The US Navy has dismantled its Task Force on Climate Change.
DOI Scientists Ignored in Northern California Dam Project
The DOI ignored its own scientists and approved a project to raise the height of California’s Shasta Dam despite the large impact it would have on ecology of the region.
Staff at HHS were unable to talk about gun violence research after two mass shootings
After El Paso and Dayton shootings, the HHS issued a directive warning staff to obtain approval before posting anything on social media related to mental health, violence, or mass shootings.
Staff at the National Park Service are restricted from providing evidence-based public comments
NPS acting deputy director, David Vela, has issued a memo that requires that NPS staff to seek permission if they want to submit public comments on policies at other federal agencies.
The USDA Dismantled Health and Safety Protections at Pork Manufacturing Plants
The USDA failed to use the best available science when finalizing a new pork inspection rule.
The Department of the Interior Dismantled the Endangered Species Act
The Department of the Interior (DOI) dismantled the role of science in informing protections for endangered and threatened species.
The EPA Rolls Back Protections for Alaska’s Waterways from Mining Activities
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sidelined its own scientific assessment showing that the development of Pebble Mine, a proposed mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska would harm the area’s ecosystem.
USDA Buries Sweeping Plan Prioritizing Climate Science
The USDA prevented the release of a plan for how the agency can effectively respond to the impacts of climate change.
EPA Stops Collecting Data on Pollutants Released from Farms
EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler exempted farms from reporting hazardous air emissions from animal waste.
Related resources
Feature
UCS and the Coronavirus
The Union of Concerned Scientists is actively monitoring the coronavirus pandemic and its implications for scientific integrity.
Podcast
Understanding Vaccines
Dr. Jo Anne Welsch discusses how vaccines are developed and tested, and explores the implications of the process for the coronavirus.
Report
Tracing Who’s Responsible for Temperature Increase and Sea Level Rise
A new study quantifies the impacts of emissions traced to major fossil fuel producers on our changing climate.
Feature
Breathe In the Smog, Drink In the Lead
Clean air, clean water, good food, safe toys: that's the way it should be for kids. But thanks to some not-so-nice-men in Washington, DC, that's not the way it is.