ROADMAP FOR SCIENCE IN DECISIONMMAKING

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) argues that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must strengthen its scientific integrity to protect public health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The document details instances of political interference, such as the suppression of reports and restrictions on scientist communications, and recommends systemic reforms. These include improving whistleblower protections, dismantling systemic racism within the agency, ensuring independent science in decisionmaking, and making scientific integrity policies more accessible and transparent.

• The CDC has experienced political interference that has compromised scientific integrity, resulting in the censorship of scientists, the burial of scientific reports, and restrictions on media access to experts.
• Specific examples of political interference include the cancellation of a 'Climate and Health Summit' shortly after President Trump's inauguration in 2017, the 2017 instruction to staff to avoid using terms like 'science-based' and 'evidence-based' in budget documents, and the 2018 suppression of a study on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC faced issues including testing-kit failures, the suppression of a report regarding the safe reopening of communities, and restrictions on experts appearing in CBS interviews.
• A significant portion of the CDC workforce has reported a toxic internal culture characterized by systemic racism and discrimination, which employees argue undermines the agency's core mission.
• Many CDC scientists feel restricted in their ability to communicate research; a 2018 UCS survey found that 40 percent of CDC scientists believed they were not allowed to speak to the public or news media about their findings.
• The CDC's scientific integrity (SI) policies are currently hindered by poor accessibility, with key guidance documents being removed from the main website or moved to the publications library during the pandemic.
• The document recommends that the CDC implement a publication policy similar to the FDA, allowing scientists to proceed with publication if a supervisor fails to review a manuscript within 30 days.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2020). ROADMAP FOR SCIENCE IN DECISIONMMAKING. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/cdc-fact-sheet-roadmap-for-science.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. ROADMAP FOR SCIENCE IN DECISIONMMAKING. 2020. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/cdc-fact-sheet-roadmap-for-science.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=ROADMAP FOR SCIENCE IN DECISIONMMAKING |date=August 2020 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/cdc-fact-sheet-roadmap-for-science.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2020roadmap, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{ROADMAP FOR SCIENCE IN DECISIONMMAKING}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2020}, month = aug, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/cdc-fact-sheet-roadmap-for-science.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }