Summer 2009
Perspective
Scientific Integrity Revitalized
As we look back on President Obama's first few months in office, UCS is heartened that his administration has planted the seeds for restoring scientific integrity to federal policy making—but recognizes that these seeds must be nurtured in order to grow.
We worked closely with the president's transition team to make scientific integrity one of his central themes. Beginning with his inaugural address promise to "restore science to its rightful place," President Obama has made a series of remarkable commitments that closely mirrored our own recommendations. He pledged support for federal scientist whistle-blowers, stated that government agencies must better explain how they make science-based decisions, and tasked science advisor John Holdren with creating a strategy to restore scientific integrity to federal policy making.
But much remains to be done to repair the damage caused by previous administrations and insulate the scientific process from abuse by future administrations. The checks and balances that could prevent the executive branch from misusing scientific information are currently inadquate, and special-interest groups that subvert the public good are not going anywhere.
We were encouraged by the fact that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson, on her first day in office, sent a memo to employees pledging to operate the agency "as openly as possible" and make science the "backbone for EPA programs." Now the EPA needs to live up to those words, and a good first step is to improve access to its scientific resources. Scientific data essential to protecting the nation's health and safety remain secret, while the agency's current media policy limits the ability of scientists to communicate their findings to the press and public. UCS plans to meet with leaders of the EPA and other agencies to help strengthen their communications policies and practices.
Until new policies protecting science are put in place, it is up to groups like us to ensure that government officials follow through on their promises of reform. For example, the Obama administration failed to roll back the Bush administration's damaging changes to the Endangered Species Act until thousands of scientists spoke up (read more in "Newsroom").
To avoid similar disappointments, we should remember the following quote attributed to Franklin Delano Roosevelt: “I agree with you. I want to do it. Now make me do it.” In other words, UCS must help create the political space that allows the president and his administration to take the bold action we need to protect science, health, and the environment for years to come. To track the administration’s progress, visit www.ucsusa.org/integrityprogressreport.
–Kevin Knobloch, president
