UCS Success Stories
Obama Issues Scientific Integrity Memo
After five years of sounding the call for our government to restore integrity to federal science, we reached an important milestone in March 2009 when President Obama released a memorandum instructing the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to develop a strategy aimed at preventing political interference in science. President Obama pledged to elevate the role of science in his administration by "ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda-and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology." The memo lays out guiding principles to improve transparency in policymaking, ensure that well-qualified individuals are appointed to science positions, and protect those who expose abuses of science.
UCS provided extensive background information to presidential transition officials on steps the White House could take to restore scientific integrity to federal policymaking. The memorandum closely mirrors UCS recommendations as detailed in our report, Federal Science and the Public Good. We will continue to work with scientists and activists ensure that OSTP's strategy proposals are held up to the highest standards of scientific integrity.
