Fight Censorship of Academic Research

Federally-supported research drives basic science and knowledge production in the U.S. That research plays a critical role in our economy, health, and well-being, from identifying new treatments for life-altering conditions like Parkinson’s, to helping farmers prevent crop diseases, to further analyzing and understanding the history of Jim Crow segregation, and more. Everyone benefits from this shared foundational knowledge, much of which is generated with, and dependent on federal support. But that knowledge is only consistently produced when scholars are free to explore, collaborate, share, and discuss their work – nationally and internationally. The Trump Administration has issued multiple directives censoring or threatening to restrict research. For instance, “disability” is one of dozens of words that will now trigger a review of research at the National Science Foundation. At the Centers for Disease Control, the term “LGBT” is forbidden, erasing an entire community from new bodies of research. Not only will individuals be harmed by this research suppression, but our nation as a whole will be at risk. Our longstanding global competitiveness is in jeopardy, and as a result, so is our economy. Our reputation is severely tarnished, which will make it difficult for U.S. researchers to work with their international peers. And, our ability to recruit, educate, and train a new generation of scholars is uncertain. Congress must immediately intervene and demand that U.S. government censorship of research not only stop, but be rolled back.