Report Addresses Political Interference in Government Science

The National Task Force on Rule of Law and Democracy (Task Force), a nonpartisan group of former public servants and policy experts at the Brennan Center, recently released a report outlining ways to restrict political interference in government science and fix the process for appointing senior government officials. According to the report, “In recent years, the norms and expectations that once ensured that our government was guided primarily by the public interest rather than by individual or partisan interest have significantly weakened. There are now far fewer constraints to deter abuse by executive branch actors.” The report points to instances of “violations of previously respected safeguards” under President Trump, such as when the acting White House Chief of Staff reportedly ordered the Commerce Department to have the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issue a statement in support of President Trump’s false claim that Hurricane Dorian would impact Alabama and contradicting forecasters at the Birmingham office of the National Weather Service. Other examples highlighted in the report, include the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to relocate its research agencies outside of Washington, DC, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) directive to exclude agency-funded scientists from service on its advisory panels. The Task Force also warns of the breakdown of the process for appointing key gove...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news