January 14, 2025
3 1 minute read
50,000 scientists urge Congress to protect research from Trump
Two open letters from scientists and science advocacy groups reflect growing concern about the future of federal science under President-elect Trump
Kennedy Jr. greets President-elect Donald Trump on stage during a campaign event at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on August 23, 2024.
Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images
ClimateWire | More than 50,000 scientists and their supporters have signed an open letter asking Congress to protect federal research and scientific careers ahead of the incoming Trump administration.
He led the Union of Concerned Scientists, a non-profit science advocacy organization, and Posted the message Monday morning. The document cites concerns that President-elect Donald Trump may eliminate or reorganize federal science agencies, reduce staffing, and attack regulations meant to protect public health and the environment.
“The Trump administration’s current agenda promises to repeal the protections that Americans rely on and support: clean air and water; safe food and medicine; products that won’t harm us; and protection from extreme weather and other harmful effects of climate change,” the letter said. “Without a strong federal flag.” “People will suffer, and historically marginalized communities will continue to bear the burden of these harms.”
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The letter also asked members of Congress to “oppose anti-science nominees for any federal agency who do not agree to follow and/or implement their agency’s scientific integrity policy.”
Also on Monday, 28 organizations I submitted a letter To Senators asking them to vote against political candidates who do not have appropriate qualifications, demonstrate a conflict of interest, fail to acknowledge scientific consensus on issues relevant to the agency, or have a record of disregarding scientific integrity.
Signatories included public health societies, medical societies, environmental organizations and science advocacy groups, including the Union of Concerned Scientists.
“The decisions they make about nominees will determine whether agencies use the significant scientific expertise of government employees and advisors to protect public health and economic stability, or whether bias and misinformation impede effective responses,” the letter said.
Trump “was re-elected with a resounding mandate from the American people to change the status quo in Washington,” Carolyn Leavitt, Trump’s transition spokeswoman, said in an email to Politico’s E&E News. “That’s why he chose smart, well-respected people to serve in his administration, and he will continue to stand behind them as they fight back against all those who seek to obstruct the MAGA agenda.”
The letters reflect growing concern among scientists and science advocates about… The future of federal research Under Trump. Experts have raised concerns that the incoming administration may downsize federal agencies, change or scale back their research priorities, or impose censorship on scientists and scientists. Altering or destroying federal data sets.
Trump has consistently denied the seriousness of climate change and has pledged to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement for a second time. He has also recently taken advantage of a number of political candidates known for denying mainstream science on related topics public health and the environment.
Some of Trump’s picks for the new administration include the lead authors of Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint led by the Heritage Foundation. The document calls for a radical reorganization of some federal science agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and says that “the Biden administration’s climate fanaticism will need to dismantle the entire government.” Some nominations raised concerns that the political plan might affect Trump’s priorities after he takes office.
“The first 100 days of the Trump administration will be critical to taking actions that can save the science that saves lives,” the UCS letter to Congress states. “This is a critical time to show the administration that members of Congress from both parties are united in championing science that helps protect the communities they represent.”
Reprinted from E&E News Courtesy of POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environmental professionals.