Preserving Scientific Integrity in Federal Policymaking

The Union of Concerned Scientists outlines a framework for preserving scientific integrity in the US federal government. It recommends establishing a dedicated scientific integrity coordinator within the White House OSTP, strengthening whistleblower protections via the WPEA, and reforming the OIRA regulatory review process to prioritize statutory standards over economic tests. The report also advocates for greater transparency through FOIA reforms, open data initiatives, and the removal of barriers to public participation in rulemaking, particularly regarding environmental justice.

• To foster a culture of scientific integrity, the president should appoint an assistant director within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to oversee policies ensuring federal actions are based on the best available science without political influence. This role would coordinate agency compliance, facilitate an interagency working group, and release an annual report on the state of scientific integrity.
• The report recommends expanding the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) to address gaps in retaliation protections. Proposed expansions include granting civil service whistleblowers access to district court with jury trials, protecting employees against retaliatory investigations, and extending coverage to the military, intelligence community, and government contractors.
• The document argues for the reform of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) to prevent it from overriding agency scientific expertise. It suggests that OIRA review should be limited to 90 days (with a possible 30-day extension), be triggered only for economically significant rules, and prioritize statutory standards over OIRA-defined economic tests.
• To ensure independent science, the report recommends strengthening the federal scientific advisory committee system. This includes selecting members based solely on technical qualifications rather than political affiliation, requiring the disclosure of financial ties to affected corporations, and making committee members' votes public when consensus is not reached.
• The report advocates for increased transparency to prevent political interference, specifically by reforming the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Recommendations include creating a consolidated online request portal, shifting the burden of proof to commercial entities requesting exemptions, and granting the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) binding arbitration powers.
• To enhance public participation in rulemaking, the document suggests leveraging technology to make dockets more user-friendly and diversifying outreach. It specifically recommends strengthening Executive Order 12898 by making scientific analysis of justice and equity consequences mandatory for significant agency rules.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2017). Preserving Scientific Integrity in Federal Policymaking. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/01/preserving-scientific-integrity-appendix-a.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Preserving Scientific Integrity in Federal Policymaking. 2017. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/01/preserving-scientific-integrity-appendix-a.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Preserving Scientific Integrity in Federal Policymaking |date=January 2017 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/01/preserving-scientific-integrity-appendix-a.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2017preserving, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Preserving Scientific Integrity in Federal Policymaking}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2017}, month = jan, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/01/preserving-scientific-integrity-appendix-a.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }