Thank you for committing to listen to scientists and restore our government’s scientific capacity. I’m encouraged by some of the progress your administration has made to ensure that federal policies meant to protect public health, safety, and the environment are based on science that is free from political interference. But there’s much more that needs to be done to protect Americans like me.
I urge you to take the following critical steps, recommended by the Union of Concerned Scientists, to defend science for the public good:
—Direct the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to ensure agencies improve and enforce scientific integrity policies and practices.
—Instruct the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) to provide clear guidelines about conflicts of interest on federal advisory committees and agency peer reviews.
—Direct agencies to enhance digital accessibility in the rulemaking process to expand public participation and increase transparency and equity.
—Support congressional efforts to expand the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act.
—Strengthen Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.
These actions will make a huge difference and help ensure that science can never again be overridden by politics. Thanks.
