The Trump administration’s ongoing assault on science has been relentless throughout the year. Since January 20th, 2025, there have been a staggering 536 attacks on science, undermining the best available scientific evidence in federal policy and decision-making. This systematic campaign follows a structured strategy outlined in the Project 2025 playbook.
The attacks on science have continued to escalate each month, with November revealing significant incidents targeting vaccine safety, development, and efficacy. Federal health agencies have been manipulated by anti-science influences, resulting in vaccine denialism, conspiracy theory endorsement, and ableism that jeopardizes public health and safety.
One alarming example is the CDC changing scientifically-informed guidance on vaccines and autism under the direction of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a political appointee with a history of anti-vaccine beliefs and conflicts of interest. This interference extends to agencies like the Indian Health Services (IHS), where vaccination messaging has been censored and downplayed, potentially impacting vaccine uptake in Native communities.
Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration has threatened changes that could hinder the approval process for new vaccines, undermining the expertise of agency scientists and jeopardizing public trust in vaccination efforts. These attacks on vaccines occur amidst a broader assault on public health policies, including the gutting of federally funded research on vaccine safety and the promotion of anti-vaccine theories that have long been debunked.
The implications of these attacks are dire, especially amid the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles. Vaccines are proven to be safe and effective in protecting individuals and communities from infectious diseases, making the political interference in federal health agencies all the more concerning.
To combat this assault on science, advocacy for evidence-based policy and scientific integrity protections is crucial. The Scientific Integrity (SI) Act, which aims to prevent political interference in federal science, has bipartisan support in the House of Representatives but requires more cosponsors to become law. By urging members of Congress to support the SI Act, we can safeguard the integrity of federal science and ensure that evidence-based decision-making prevails in government policies.
Together, we can protect the integrity of science and uphold the importance of vaccinations in safeguarding public health. Join us in advocating for scientific integrity protections and preserving the credibility of federal scientific research.
