In a move stirring significant contention, President Trump announced an executive order intended to implement what he describes as a “gold standard” for scientific research across federal agencies and national laboratories. This directive empowers political appointees to oversee and vet scientific investigations, adjust the dissemination of scientific findings, and enforce punitive measures against those who diverge from the administration's scientific narrative.
The order, revealed on May 23, has elicited a wave of criticism from the scientific community. An open letter has gathered the signatures of over 6,000 scientists, academics, physicians, and researchers vehemently opposing the order. They argue that this approach threatens research independence and the groundbreaking pursuit of knowledge.
Since resuming his presidency in January, Trump's actions have not demonstrated a commitment to scientific inquiry nor an awareness of the protocols that govern the scientific establishment. Agency heads now have a limited timeframe of 30 days to align with the new directives, a situation which many in the scientific community regard as a formidable challenge to the integrity of research and its free practice.
