Scientific Integrity at the US Geological Survey

A 2018 survey of 561 US Geological Survey (USGS) scientists indicates that while 85% believe the agency adheres to its scientific integrity policy, there is significant evidence of politicization. Key issues include the diversion of resources away from politically contentious research, restrictions on professional development, and the self-censorship or explicit removal of the phrase "climate change" from scientific work.

• A majority of surveyed USGS scientists observed a shift in resources away from research deemed politically contentious, with 59% reporting that funding and staff time were distributed away from such work and 22% stating they were told not to work on specific politically contentious topics.
• There is evidence of censorship regarding climate change: 32% of respondents reported avoiding the phrase "climate change" or working on the topic without explicit orders, while 21% reported being directly told to omit the phrase from their work.
• USGS scientists reported a lack of support for professional growth, with 50% stating they lacked adequate time and resources for professional development, such as attending scientific conferences.
• Despite reports of censorship and resource diversion, a large majority of respondents believe the agency follows its formal integrity guidelines, with 85% agreeing that the USGS adheres to its scientific integrity policy.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2018). Scientific Integrity at the US Geological Survey. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/science-under-trump-usgs.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Scientific Integrity at the US Geological Survey. 2018. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/science-under-trump-usgs.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Scientific Integrity at the US Geological Survey |date=2018 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/science-under-trump-usgs.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2018scientific, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Scientific Integrity at the US Geological Survey}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2018}, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/science-under-trump-usgs.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }