The Trump administration and 115th Congress actively dismantled science-based health and safety protections, sidelined scientific evidence, and undid progress on scientific integrity.
Below is a running list of attacks on science—disappearing data, silenced scientists, and other assaults on scientific integrity and science-based policy. The list provides a representative sample of threats to the federal scientific enterprise.
Attacks on science
Rolled Back Protections on Migratory Birds
The US Fish and Wildlife Service issued a rule that rolled back the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Trump Administration Didn’t Use Best Available Science to Estimate the Costs of Climate Change
The Trump administration failed to incorporate the best available science into how they calculate the social cost of carbon.
Trump Administration Suppressed Clean Energy Research
Under the Trump administration, the DOE buried, delayed, or sidelined 46 studies on clean energy.
EPA Rule Restricted Science
In early January 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule that limited what research can be used to craft public health protections.
US Forest Service Sidelines the Use of Environmental Studies for Infrastructure Projects
The US Forest Service issued a rule that weakens the requirement to study potential environmental harms from proposed infrastructure projects.
OSHA is Allowing Companies to Not Report COVID-19 Hospitalizations Among Workers
OSHA changed its COVID-19 reporting requirements such that severe COVID-19 cases at workplaces are less likely to get reported.
Director of US Geological Survey Undermines How Scientists Study Climate Change
The USGS' operational manual was edited to push climate models that are less likely to show the worst effects of climate change.
Trump Administration Delayed a Key Step in Major Climate Report
The Fifth National Climate Assessment, had a key step delayed for several months.
Food and Drug Administration Skirts Scientific Process to Keep Food Safe
The FDA failed to enforce a policy that protects food from potentially unsafe chemicals.
Homeland Security Officials Modified Intelligence Reports to Downplay Politically-Inconvenient Threats
DHS officials delayed or modified several intelligence reports on the threat of Russian political interference in the US.
Related resources
Feature
UCS and the Coronavirus
The Union of Concerned Scientists is actively monitoring the coronavirus pandemic and vaccine rollout.
Explainer
COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ
As COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available, it's important to have access to reliable scientific information. Here are answers to the most common questions.
Podcast
The Science of Disinformation on Social Media
Social media analyst Erin McAweeney explains how disinformation spreads on social media.
Podcast
COVID-19 Vaccine Questions Answered
Infectious disease expert and Arkansas Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero answers key questions about COVID-19 vaccines.