SAFEGUARDING AGAINST DISTORTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN FEDERAL POLICYMAKING

摘要

The Trump Administration has highlighted the vulnerabilities in the federal system by which science-based decisions are made, particularly where conflicts of interest are present. Safeguards to protect against distortions of scientific research and resulting federal policies are long overdue. Where federal policy decisions must be informed by scientific evidence, we need qualified, independent individuals who are unencumbered by conflicts of interest and able to make decisions that benefit the public. In contrast to those who are hand-selected for specific policy agendas that undermine science-informed decisionmaking and heighten distrust of the federal government, the public interest is best served by political appointees and advisory committees that are free from financial or ideological interests.