Freedom to Speak?

The Union of Concerned Scientists investigated 15 federal agencies, finding significant inconsistency in how scientific results are communicated. While agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey and Nuclear Regulatory Commission demonstrate a culture of openness, others such as the EPA and OSHA are characterized by message control, lack of central policy, or restrictive pre-approval requirements. The report argues that federal agencies should adopt policies that protect the right of scientists to express personal views with a disclaimer and allow them to review and approve documents based on their research.

• There is a lack of consistency across federal agencies regarding media policies, meaning a scientist's ability to speak freely depends largely on their specific employer.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lacks a unified agency-wide media policy, resulting in inconsistent rules across different offices and a restrictive environment for scientists.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) prioritize 'message control' over openness, leaving scientists feeling intimidated.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) possesses excellent written policies, but in practice, scientists often fear retaliation for stating personal views.
• The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are identified as top-tier agencies for scientific openness and the consistent application of free speech policies.
• The National Science Foundation (NSF) was found to have an outstanding practice of protecting free speech and preventing interference, despite the absence of a formal written media policy.
• The report recommends that all federal agencies adopt policies based on two tenets: allowing scientists to express personal views using a disclaimer and granting them the right to review and comment on publications relying on their research.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2008). Freedom to Speak? https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Freedom-to-Speak.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Freedom to Speak? 2008. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Freedom-to-Speak.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Freedom to Speak? |date=2008 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Freedom-to-Speak.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2008freedom, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Freedom to Speak?}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2008}, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Freedom-to-Speak.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }