As of August 1, 2026, the second Trump administration has initiated 594 actions perceived as attacks on science. These actions have restricted scientists, both within federal agencies and externally, from conducting their research, sharing it openly, and utilizing the most reliable data and evidence in decision-making processes that impact everyone.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has been tracking and reporting these attacks for over two decades. However, the rate, magnitude, and breadth of these actions since January 2025 have been staggering and devastating to public safety, health, and the environment. For perspective, UCS documented 207 attacks across the first Trump administration, 96 during George W. Bush’s two terms, and just 21 during the combined Obama and Biden terms.
Facing an average of over 30 attacks per month under the current administration, UCS required a more efficient and effective system for monitoring them. Dr. Jules Barbati-Dajches, an analyst at UCS’s Center for Science and Democracy, spearheaded the development of a new tool designed not only to track these attacks but also to equip anyone interested with the necessary data to counteract them.
What is the new Attacks on Science Tracker? How can people use it?
Jules Barbati-Dajches: The Attacks on Science Tracker is an interactive platform that provides data on these attacks and potential violations of scientific integrity, all in one comprehensive location. It offers a variety of uses and interactive features that allow users from diverse backgrounds and expertise levels to focus on the data most relevant to them, supported by visualizations.
The platform is designed so users can examine attacks individually or investigate patterns and intersections of various factors independently. This data can be linked to other sources for numerous purposes, making it a flexible resource akin to a “choose your own adventure” tool. For scientists and researchers, it offers limitless possibilities for crafting custom research outputs. It can also be used for personal curiosity or to engage in science advocacy.
For instance, someone writing a letter to the editor or an op-ed on a topic they are passionate about can utilize the Tracker to enrich their content. In a UCS webinar last month, I demonstrated how the Tracker can help develop talking points for meetings with congressional representatives. Our aim was to create a versatile tool useful for various purposes, catering to different expertise and familiarity levels with scientific policies.
What qualifies as an attack on science for inclusion in the tool?
Jules Barbati-Dajches: Generally, attacks on science are instances of political interference within the federal government. Our Attacks on Science Tracker categorizes 11 types of attacks and seven topics, such as climate science, to provide context on how and why these occur. Anyone interested in our classification methods can view our methodology.
How does the Attacks on Science Tracker differ from previous UCS efforts to document and monitor attacks on science under different presidential administrations?
Jules Barbati-Dajches: The Tracker serves as the public interface, but the underlying methodology for data collection, screening, analysis, and organization has been revamped. The new methodology builds on over 20 years of UCS research and advocacy on science attacks. Scripts now automate the gathering and organizing of news reports on these attacks, with our team analyzing the data to identify and categorize them. This approach will enable more efficient and consistent documentation and recording of these attacks over time.
Why is it crucial to document these attacks on science?
Jules Barbati-Dajches: Documenting is a crucial aspect of our work, especially for those interested in pursuing litigation or connecting different attacks to observed impacts. The record serves numerous purposes for those who need it.
Additionally, the Tracker offers a forward-looking perspective: understanding what has been attacked and dismantled allows us to reimagine or rebuild to better serve the public and ensure safety.
In my opinion, it underscores the importance of safeguarding scientific integrity in governmental decisions. The Tracker indicates that implementing protections, like those in the Scientific Integrity Act, could prevent potential violations. This bipartisan-supported bill, currently under debate in the House and Senate, aims to shield federal science from political interference across all scientific agencies, offering more consistency than agency-specific rules and greater resistance to changes from executive orders.
Our team has presented the Tracker to Congress members who support the Scientific Integrity Act and those considering support. It provides compelling evidence for these protections.
The Tracker has been live for about two months! How has it been received by its users?
Jules Barbati-Dajches: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve received encouraging feedback on its utility from supporters, colleagues at UCS, and partner organizations. In discussions with partners, I’ve learned how they plan to use the tool and integrate it into their work, with various use cases shared in response.
What surprised you or stood out while working on the Tracker? What do you hope people take away from it?
Jules Barbati-Dajches: The frequency of attacks on health and safety was the most striking aspect of our findings. These attacks affect the physical, mental, emotional, or social well-being of individuals, groups, and communities, significantly compromising safety and well-being.
As a takeaway: the tool is designed for anyone who cares about science. I hope people feel empowered to use it for their needs and to advocate for scientific protections and policies informed by evidence.
