The past six months have seen a relentless assault on federal science under the Trump administration. Attacks on science have been rampant, with 402 confirmed instances of the administration silencing, co-opting, or politicizing federal scientists and their work.
Despite this onslaught, a recent survey shows that the majority of Americans disapprove of the Trump administration’s attacks on science by a 2-to-1 margin. The situation is dire, with the administration undermining the scientific process and putting lives at risk.
In June, there were both setbacks and victories for federal science. One positive development was a federal judge ruling that the Trump administration’s process of rescinding NIH grants was illegal and discriminatory. This led to the reinstatement of around 900 grants, with NIH officials pausing the elimination of any additional grants based on arbitrary criteria.
However, there were also setbacks in June. The Office of Science and Technology Policy released guidance based on a May executive order, leading to the removal and scrubbing of climate data from NOAA’s website. The administration has been laying off federal workers and scientists involved in climate science, pulling funding from universities, and directing agencies to remove or alter climate-related webpages, programs, and reports.
Despite these challenges, there are ways to defend federal science. One can contact representatives in Congress to support the Scientific Integrity Act, which safeguards against political interference in science. Becoming a Scientific Integrity Champion and staying involved in upcoming actions related to scientific integrity are also crucial steps to protect federal science.
The fight to defend federal science continues, and staying informed and engaged is key to pushing back against the administration’s attacks on science. Together, we can work towards ensuring the integrity of federal science and protecting the vital role it plays in society.
